Severity level and ventilation procedures in COVID-19 patients in a semi-intensive care unit

ABSTRACT

Introduction and Purpose of the study SARS-CoV2 infection is characterized by massive involvement of the respiratory system. During the various waves, the patients admitted to the Covid wards presented different degrees of pulmonary involvement and numerous comorbidities. Administration of oxygen therapy was the prevalent measure in almost all subjects. The aim of our study was to verify the level of severity and ventilation procedures in a group of subjects hospitalized for SARS-CoV2 infection. Materials and Methods: 388 subjects admitted to the semi-intensive Covid Unit of the F. Miulli Hospital in 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, by examining the SDOs. The main diagnoses and procedures performed were identified. A severity cluster was identified characterized by death, ventilation and hospitalization in the semi-intensive area (cut off at 14 days). Results: 82 were the deceased (21.1%). The main diagnoses most represented were 84.2% respiratory failure, 3.3% heart failure, 2.5% pulmonary embolism and 1.5% septicemia. Regarding the procedures, 31.9% underwent C-PAP ventilation, while 0.7% underwent non-invasive mechanical ventilation. 64% of the subjects had a severe degree of disease evidenced by the composite cluster of deaths, ventilation and at least 14 nights in semi-intensive care. Conclusions: Our data shows that in the face of almost all patients with respiratory failure, about one third underwent ventilation procedures (C-PAP and NIV). More than half of the subjects had a severe degree of disease.