Scientific publications

Patient characteristics, clinical course and factors associated to ICU mortality in critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Spain: A prospective, cohort, multicentre study. Scientific Publication

Oct 1, 2020 | Magazine: Revista Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación

C Ferrando  1 , R Mellado-Artigas  2 , A Gea  3 , E Arruti  4 , C Aldecoa  5 , A Bordell  5 , R Adalia  6 , L Zattera  6 , F Ramasco  7 , P Monedero  8 , E Maseda  9 , A Martínez  10 , G Tamayo  10 , J Mercadal  2 , G Muñoz  2 , A Jacas  2 , G Ángeles  2 , P Castro  11 , M Hernández-Tejero  12 , J Fernandez  12 , M Gómez-Rojo  13 , Á Candela  13 , J Ripollés  14 , A Nieto  14 , E Bassas  15 , C Deiros  15 , A Margarit  6 , F J Redondo  16 , A Martín  17 , N García  18 , P Casas  19 , C Morcillo  20 , M L Hernández-Sanz  21 , de la Red de UCI Española para COVID-19


Background: The clinical course of COVID-19 critically ill patients, during their admission in the intensive care unit (UCI), including medical and infectious complications and support therapies, as well as their association with in-ICU mortality has not been fully reported.

Objective: This study aimed to describe clinical characteristics and clinical course of ICU COVID-19 patients, and to determine risk factors for ICU mortality of COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Prospective, multicentre, cohort study that enrolled critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted into 30 ICUs from Spain and Andorra. Consecutive patients from March 12th to May 26th, 2020 were enrolled if they had died or were discharged from ICU during the study period. Demographics, symptoms, vital signs, laboratory markers, supportive therapies, pharmacological treatments, medical and infectious complications were reported and compared between deceased and discharged patients.

Results: A total of 663 patients were included. Overall ICU mortality was 31% (203 patients). At ICU admission non-survivors were more hypoxemic [SpO2 with non-rebreather mask, 90 (IQR 83 to 93) vs. 91 (IQR 87 to 94); P<.001] and with higher sequential organ failure assessment score [SOFA, 7 (IQR 5 to 9) vs. 4 (IQR 3 to 7); P<.001]. Complications were more frequent in non-survivors: acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (95% vs. 89%; P=.009), acute kidney injury (AKI) (58% vs. 24%; P<10-16), shock (42% vs. 14%; P<10-13), and arrhythmias (24% vs. 11%; P<10-4). Respiratory super-infection, bloodstream infection and septic shock were higher in non-survivors (33% vs. 25%; P=.03, 33% vs. 23%; P=.01 and 15% vs. 3%, P=10-7), respectively. The multivariable regression model showed that age was associated with mortality, with every year increasing risk-of-death by 1% (95%CI: 1 to 10, P=.014). Each 5-point increase in APACHE II independently predicted mortality [OR: 1.508 (1.081, 2.104), P=.015]. Patients with AKI [OR: 2.468 (1.628, 3.741), P<10-4)], cardiac arrest [OR: 11.099 (3.389, 36.353), P=.0001], and septic shock [OR: 3.224 (1.486, 6.994), P=.002] had an increased risk-of-death.

Conclusions: Older COVID-19 patients with higher APACHE II scores on admission, those who developed AKI grades ii or iii and/or septic shock during ICU stay had an increased risk-of-death. ICU mortality was 31%.

CITATION Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim (Engl Ed). 2020 Oct;67(8):425-437. doi: 10.1016/j.redar.2020.07.003. Epub 2020 Jul 13.