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OBJECTIVES: Given finite ICU bed capacity, knowledge of ICU bed utilization during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is critical to ensure future strategies for resource allocation and utilization. We sought to examine ICU census trends in relation to ICU bed capacity during the rapid increase in severe coronavirus disease 2019 cases early during the pandemic. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Thirteen geographically dispersed academic medical centers in the United States. PATIENTS/SUBJECTS: We obtained daily ICU censuses from March 26 to June 30, 2020, as well as prepandemic ICU bed capacities. The primary outcome was daily census of ICU patients stratified by coronavirus disease 2019 and mechanical ventilation status in relation to ICU capacity. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Prepandemic overall ICU capacity ranged from 62 to 225 beds (median 109). During the study period, the median daily coronavirus disease 2019 ICU census per hospital ranged from 1 to 84 patients, and the daily ICU census exceeded overall ICU capacity for at least 1 day at five institutions. The number of critically ill patients exceeded ICU capacity for a median (interquartile range) of 17 (12-50) of 97 days at these five sites. All 13 institutions experienced decreases in their noncoronavirus disease ICU population, whereas local coronavirus disease 2019 cases increased. Coronavirus disease 2019 patients reached their greatest proportion of ICU capacity on April 12, 2020, when they accounted for 44% of ICU patients across all participating hospitals. Maximum ICU census ranged from 52% to 289% of overall ICU capacity, with three sites less than 80%, four sites 80-100%, five sites 100-128%, and one site 289%. CONCLUSIONS: From March to June 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to ICU censuses greater than ICU bed capacity at fives of 13 institutions evaluated. These findings demonstrate the short-term adaptability of U.S. healthcare institutions in redirecting limited resources to accommodate a public health emergency.
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In large clinical trials enrolling patients with acute coronary syndromes, a high loading dose of clopidogrel (600 mg) has been found to be more effective compared to a low loading dose (300 mg). However, the applicability of these data to stable patients who undergo elective percutaneous coronary intervention is still unclear. A total of 400 patients who underwent elective PCI were prospectively randomized to receive either 600 mg (n = 200) or 300 mg (n = 200) of clopidogrel, followed by a daily maintenance dose of 75 mg. The primary end point was the presence of major adverse cardiovascular events (combined death, myocardial infarction, acute neurologic event, stent thrombosis, and need for percutaneous or surgical revascularization of the target vessel) during hospitalization and at 30 days. The secondary end point was periprocedural vascular complications, major bleeding, and cardiac enzyme elevation. There were no differences in the primary end point among the groups immediately after the procedure (3.5% of patients in the 300-mg group vs 4.5% of those in the 600-mg group, p = 0.799) or at 30 days (6% vs 5%, respectively, p = 0.826). The rates of periprocedural vascular complications (2.5% vs 3%, respectively, p = 1.00), bleeding complications (9% vs 8.5%, respectively, p = 1.00), and cardiac enzyme elevation (11% vs 15.5%, respectively, p = 0.317) were similar between the 2 groups. In conclusion, adverse cardiovascular events and bleeding complications during the initial hospitalization and at 30-day follow-up were similar when a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel was used compared to the conventional dose of 300 mg.