COVID-19 in the Critically Ill Patient

Taison D Bell

doi:10.1016/j.idc.2022.02.005

COVID-19 in the Critically Ill Patient

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2022 Jun;36(2):365-377. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.02.005. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Author

Taison D Bell¹

Affiliation

¹ Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 310 Maroon Creek Court, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 310 Maroon Creek Court, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA. Electronic address: TDB4C@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant mortality in the United States with more than 800,000 deaths in 2020 and 2021. The proportion of patients with COVID-19 who develop severe disease varies but is decreasing over time with growing population immunity and improved therapeutic options. Patients who are 65 years and older represent the largest proportion of deaths from COVID-19. Additional risk factors include immunosuppression and chronic medical conditions. Vaccination dramatically reduces the risk of severe COVID-19. Although critical illness from COVID-19 is mostly driven by respiratory disease, critical illness can manifest in several ways and affect several organ systems.

Keywords: ARDS; Acute respiratory distress syndrome; COVID; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Critical care; Critically ill; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Critical Illness* / therapy
Humans
Pandemics / prevention & control
Risk Factors
United States
Vaccination