Predictors of Mortality in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients Demanding High Oxygen Flow: A Thin Line between Inflammation, Cytokine Storm, and Coagulopathy

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2021 Apr 20:2021:6648199. doi: 10.1155/2021/6648199. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Introduction: Mortality among critically ill COVID-19 patients remains relatively high despite different potential therapeutic modalities being introduced recently. The treatment of critically ill patients is a challenging task, without identified credible predictors of mortality.

Methods: We performed an analysis of 160 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection admitted to the Respiratory Intensive Care Unit between June 23, 2020, and October 2, 2020, in University Hospital Center Bezanijska kosa, Belgrade, Serbia. Patients on invasive, noninvasive ventilation and high flow oxygen therapy with moderate to severe ARDS, according to the Berlin definition of ARDS, were selected for the study. Demographic data, past medical history, laboratory values, and CT severity score were analyzed to identify predictors of mortality. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess potential predictors of mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Results: The mean patient age was 65.6 years (range, 29-92 years), predominantly men, 68.8%. 107 (66.9%) patients were on invasive mechanical ventilation, 31 (19.3%) on noninvasive, and 22 (13.8%) on high flow oxygen therapy machine. The median total number of ICU days was 10 (25th to 75th percentile: 6-18), while the median total number of hospital stay was 18 (25th to 75th percentile: 12-28). The mortality rate was 60% (96/160). Univariate logistic regression analysis confirmed the significance of age, CRP, and lymphocytes at admission to hospital, serum albumin, D-dimer, and IL-6 at admission to ICU, and CT score. Serum albumin, D-dimer, and IL-6 at admission to ICU were independently associated with mortality in the final multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: In the present study of 160 consecutive critically ill COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe ARDS, IL-6, serum albumin, and D-dimer at admission to ICU, accompanied by chest CT severity score, were marked as independent predictors of mortality.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Blood Coagulation Disorders / blood
  • Blood Coagulation Disorders / complications*
  • Blood Coagulation Disorders / virology
  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / mortality*
  • COVID-19 / therapy
  • Critical Care
  • Critical Illness
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / blood
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / complications*
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome / virology
  • Female
  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / analysis
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / methods*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / blood
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / complications*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics*
  • Serbia / epidemiology
  • Serum Albumin, Human / analysis
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • fibrin fragment D
  • Serum Albumin, Human