Comparison of Severity of COVID-19 Infection among Patients Using RAAS Inhibitors and Non-RAAS Inhibitors.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the article was to study the safety profile of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor in COVID-19-affected Indian patients. INTRODUCTION: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for COVID-19 infection. There has been uncertainty about use of RAAS inhibitors in COVID-19. The association of RAAS inhibitors with severity of infection and clinical outcomes was addressed in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study from Indian intensive care unit (ICU). A total of 138 were included, who were divided into group A (RAAS inhibitor) and group B (non-RAAS inhibitor). They are followed up till ICU stay during which peak levels of ferritin, D dimer, interleukin-6 were noted (primary outcome). The number of ventilator days, ICU length of stay, and ICU outcome also compared. RESULTS: Of 138 patients, 18 are included in group A and 120, in group B. There is no difference in peak levels (mean) D dimer [5,893 vs 7,710, p 0.46], ferritin [2,388 vs 3,635, p 0.56], interleukin-6 [9,597 vs 3,625, p 0.06]. There is no difference in number of ventilator days (2.2 vs 1.78, p 0.53) and ICU length of stay (6.5 vs 6.1, p 0.74). CONCLUSION: RAAS inhibitors can be safely continued in COVID-19 infection. It is not associated with an increase in severity of infection, ICU length of stay, and mortality. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Reddy PR, Samavedam S, Aluru N, Rajyalakshmi B. Comparison of Severity of COVID-19 Infection among Patients Using RAAS Inhibitors and Non-RAAS Inhibitors. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(4):366-368.

Prognostic Value of "Cycle Threshold" in Confirmed COVID-19 Patients.

Objective: To study the correlation between the cycle threshold (CT) of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test in confirmed COVID-19 patients and the severity of disease. Background: RT-PCR test is a standard method for the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. This test is based upon the amplification of the fluorescent signal. The number of cycles that the fluorescent signal undergoes to reach the threshold is called "cycle threshold." It is inversely related to the nucleic acid content of the sample. Patients and methods: This is a single-centered, retrospective observational study. We have included a total of 192 patients. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by the RT-PCR test. Entire data have been collected from the electronic medical records. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, whereas the secondary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission, invasive ventilation, acute kidney injury, renal replacement therapy (RRT), shock, and COVID-19 reporting and data system (CO-RADS) score on high-resolution computed tomography of the chest, total length of stay in the hospital, and the number of ICU days and ventilator days. Results: We have calculated the mean CT value for all groups and calculated the p-value for statistical significance. For the total length of stay in the hospital and the number of ICU days and ventilator days, we applied the Pearson correlation coefficient. The p-value was statistically significant for mortality, ICU admission, and shock groups. The CT values and the length of ICU stay were inversely correlated with the statistically significant p-value. Conclusion: Low CT value is associated with increased ICU admission, high mortality, shock, and increased length of ICU stay. How to cite this article: Rajyalakshmi B, Samavedam S, Reddy PR, Aluru N. Prognostic Value of "Cycle Threshold" in Confirmed COVID-19 Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(3):322-326.

Metabolic Resuscitation Using Hydrocortisone, Ascorbic Acid, and Thiamine: Do Individual Components Influence Reversal of Shock Independently?

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of various components of "metabolic resuscitation" on the shock reversal among patients with septic shock. INTRODUCTION: Sepsis is characterized by dysregulated host response to infection. Mitochondrial dysfunction which occurs early in sepsis is associated with multiorgan dysfunction. Therapies such as adequate resuscitation, early administration of antibiotics, and aggressive monitoring reduced mortality substantially but it still remains high for those with septic shock. Combination of vitamin C, hydrocortisone, and thiamine improved outcome in a retrospective study, but how effective is this therapy in isolation compared to combination has to be known before implementation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is single-center, prospective, randomized nonblinded trial done in septic shock patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit. Subjects were randomized to three groups of hydrocortisone (H), hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid (HA), hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid, thiamine (HAT). Following randomization, they received hydrocortisone 200 mg over 24 hours as infusion, intravenous ascorbic acid 1.5 g every 6 hours, thiamine 200 mg twice daily as allotted and continued till shock reversal or death. Primary outcome is time to shock reversal and secondary outcome is time to vasopressor dose reduction from hemodynamic SOFA score 4-3. RESULTS: Twenty seven subjects were randomized into 3 groups of 9 each, of which 17 (63%) patients met primary outcome and secondary outcome has been studied in 16 (59%) patients. Eight patients (29.5%) died and did not meet either outcome and two patients (7.5%) met secondary outcome but not primary outcome because of discharge to other hospital. There is no difference in time to shock reversal [mean, SD in H (7422, 8348), HA (2528, 3086), HAT (1860, 749), p value 0.17]. There is no difference in time to shock reversal from hemodynamic SOFA 4-3 [mean, SD in H (4935, 6406), HA (2310, 2515), HAT (1800, 1282), p value 0.35]. CONCLUSION: In patients with septic shock, there is no difference in time to shock reversal comparing individual components of metabolic resuscitation. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Reddy PR, Samavedam S, Aluru N, Yelle S, Rajyalakshmi B. Metabolic Resuscitation Using Hydrocortisone, Ascorbic Acid, and Thiamine: Do Individual Components Influence Reversal of Shock Independently? Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(8):649-652.

Thrombocytopenia in Intensive Care Unit.

How to cite this article: Aluru N, Samavedam S. Thrombocytopenia in Intensive Care Unit. Indian J Crit Care Med 2019;23(Suppl 3):S185-S188.