ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 pneumonia is responsible for the latest pandemic. Usage of pulmonary computed tomography (CT) scan is known to be an important method in the diagnosis of COVID-19. Here, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between CT severity score and capillary blood oxygen saturation in patients with COVID-19 infection. Methods and material: This is a cross-sectional study performed in 2020 on patients with COVID-19 infection. All patients underwent pulmonary CT scan and CT severity score was calculated. The initial capillary oxygen saturation by the time of admission was also collected. Data were collected and analyzed. Results: A total number of 270 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection entered the study. The initial mean capillary oxygen saturation was 89.65 ± 8.09%. The mean score in patients was 15.16 ± 8.08. We also indicated that 27 patients had hypoxia by the time of admission and these patients had significantly higher CT severity scores (p = 0.001). Diabetes mellitus (p = 0.001), hypertension (p = 0.001), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (p = 0.03) and totally having an underlying disease (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with decreased capillary oxygen saturation. Patients with hypertension (p = 0.001) and patients with the previous medical disease (p = 0.01) had significantly higher CT severity scores than others. There was a significant reverse relationship between CT severity score and capillary oxygen saturation (r = -0.44, p < 0.001). Conclusions: We showed that there was a significant reverse relationship between CT severity score and capillary oxygen saturation which has great clinical importance. Furthermore, we indicated that previous medical history could also play an important role in CT severity score. How to cite this article: Aalinezhad M, Alikhani F, Akbari P, Haji Rezaei M, Soleimani S, Hakamifard A. Relationship between CT Severity Score and Capillary Blood Oxygen Saturation in Patients with COVID-19 Infection. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(3):279-283.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) with gradual decreasing of nicotine is one of the smoking cessation methods. Muccoadhesive formulations are among the novel drug delivery systems that are available in the form of tablets and films, and can be used for NRT. Muccoadhesive nicotine tablets when placed in the upper gum will attach to the buccal mucosa and release nicotine content in a controlled manner. This will meet the immediate and long-term need of the individual to the nicotine, such that the person can decrease his/her dependency on smoking.[1]. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the tablets were prepared using different conventional bioadhesive polymers such as Hydroxypropyl Methycellulose (HPMC) 50cps, sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (NaCMC), and carbapol 934 (CP934) in singular or mixture form. Magnesium hydroxide were used as the pH increasing agent; magnesium stearate as the lubricant; and lactose as the excipiente. Nicotine hydrogen bitartrate, more stable than the liquid, was used in different formulations. Pharmaceutics characteristics such as adhesion degree and drug release rate were evaluated. RESULTS: Increasing of HPMC 50cps in the formulations decrease speed release of nicotine. The carbapol in formulations beget slow releasing of nicotine. With increasing the percent of lactose, the rate of release in formulations was increased. Formulations, which have HPMC 50cps has best adhesiveness and the formulations contains carbapol had not suitable adhesiveness. Formulations contains NaCMC were very fast release and had not suitable adhesiveness. CONCLUSION: The formulation contains mixture of HPMC50cps and CP934 was the best because of suitable adhesiveness and minimum swing in release.
