Relation of Days on Ventilatory Support to Total Days of Illness in COVID-19 Patients

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the relation between days on ventilatory support and overall mortality to total days of pre-ventilator illness in COVID-19 patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Mar to Aug 2020. Methodology: A total of 140 admitted patients within the prescribed time frame were observed in the established COVID-Intensive Care Units of Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. The criteria for inclusion in the study were patients of any age and gender on ventilatory support with a confirmatory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 both by RT-PCR, and radiological evidence on HRCT Chest. Results: The mean age of patients was 59.39 ± 13.517 years. Patients who presented with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and more than ten days of illness with respiratory compromise had a higher occurrence to be placed on mechanical ventilation. There was a strong linear and positive correlation between the total days of illness on presentation and the total days on ventilatory support (p-value <0.01). This linear relationship consequently translated into overall mortality of 78.6% with a 21.4% survival rate. Conclusion: To conclude, the total days of illness in critical COVID-19 patients had a linear relationship to days on ventilatory support and overall mortality. © 2022, Army Medical College. All rights reserved.