Appraisal of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients at a Dedicated COVID Hospital.

Purpose: To study the pattern of severe COVID-19 to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Methods: It was an observational cohort study for comprehensive clinical analysis of critically ill COVID-19 patients at a dedicated COVID public hospital.

Results: Total 373(13.6%) patients were critically ill with 254(68.1%) males and 119(31.9%) females (including 25 pregnant) and death occurred in 69(18.5%) patients. Mean of parameters associated with critical COVID illness and having significant difference among dead and recovered were; age (47.08,p= 5.67E- 09), SpO2 (86.08), blood sugar(168.47,p= 1.86E-08), IL-6(210.5,p=0.0058) D-dimer(0.753,p= 0.00178). All the patients were given oxygen by non invasive technique, in 46(12.3%) intubation and invasive ventilation required. Use of hydroxychloroquin in 284(76.1%) (p=0.041,OR0.555,95%CI 0.314-0.981), lopinavir/ ritonavir in 283(75.9%) (p=4.222E-009,OR0.198, 95%CI0.114-0.345), tocilizumab in 124(33.2%) patients, (p=3.27E006, OR0.150, 95%CI0.063-0.358) were associated with recovery. Factors that influenced mortality were presence of co-morbidities (p=0.088,OR1.784,95%CI0.911-3.492), hypertension(p=0.0031,OR2.432,95% CI1.370 -4.318), low SpO2 (p=3.91E-010,OR0.017,95%CI0.002-0.137), high blood sugar(p=7.75E-009,OR8.514,95%CI 3.776-19.201), high LDH(p=0.00064,OR2.7 22,95%CI1.545-4.798) high ferritin(p=0.00014,OR4.606,95%CI 2.035-10.422), high D-dimer(p=2.85E-007,OR4.090,95%CI 2.371-7.056), low PFR(p=4.84E-008), and endotracheal intubation(p=3.14E-043,OR165.936,95%CI48.160-571.731). Using binary logistic regression, elevated IL-6(0.02441), low PFR(0.00082), and endotracheal intubation(2.04E-10) were statistically significant predictors of death.

Conclusion: "Happy Hypoxia", hyperglycemia, high inflammatory markers (IL-6, ferritin), and ARDS were hallmark of critical COVID-19, early detection of factors associated with severity and mortality and starting the multipronged management with oxygen in prone position, hydroxychloroquin, antiviral, methylprednisolone, anticoagulants, tocilizumab early may help in halting the worsening of COVID and reduce morbidity and mortality.