Description of the clinical picture of COVID-19 in patients with fatal outcome

ABSTRACT

In the Chelyabinsk region in 2020, 33 473 cases of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were detected, of which 493 were fatal. The peak incidence of COVID-19 was recorded in November–December 2020. Purpose of research description of the course of the infectious process of COVID-19 in patients with a fatal outcome. Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of case histories of patients with COVID-19 who had a lethal outcome was carried out using the method of continuous sampling from November 2020 to April 2021 on the basis of the Regional Infectious Diseases Center of the Regional Clinical Hospital No. 3 of the Chelyabinsk Region. Diagnosis was based on a comprehensive assessment of the anamnesis, clinical, laboratory and instrumental data in accordance with the Interim Guidelines "Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19)” version 9 dated 10/26/2020. Verification of the etiological diagnosis was carried out by PCR with reverse transcription to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the nasopharyngeal secretion. The autopsy material was studied in the Pathoanatomical Department No. 9 of the Chelyabinsk Regional Pathological Bureau. Results and discussion. The average age of patients with a fatal outcome was 70 years, more often they were people with blood groups I and II, not vaccinated against COVID-19, pneumococcal infection and influenza;no gender differences were found. For patients with a fatal outcome from COVID-19, the presence of concomitant pathology is most characteristic arterial hypertension (58%), atherosclerosis (45%), type 2 diabetes mellitus (41.5%), malignant neoplasms (17%). Among the "lethal patients”, 50% had lung lesions at admission CT 2 and 25% had changes in the lungs consistent with CT 1;there was also a violation of cognitive functions in 21% of individuals. When comparing the analysis of studies of autopsy material and the clinical picture of patients, it was found that the morphological substrate of COVID-19 is both diffuse alveolar damage and simultaneous damage to the vascular bed, which is accompanied by damage to various organs and systems of the patient's body. © Eco-Vector, 2022.