Clinical characteristics and risk factors for 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study

Authors: MEHMET NURİ YAKAR, BEGÜM ERGAN, BİŞAR ERGÜN, MURAT KÜÇÜK, ALİ CANTÜRK, MAHMUT CEM ERGON, NACİYE SİNEM GEZER, ERDEM YAKA, BİLGİN CÖMERT, ALİ NECATİ GÖKMEN

Abstract: Background: To date, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused more than 2.6 million deaths all around the world. Risk factors for mortality remain unclear. The primary aim was to determine the independent risk factors for 28-day mortality. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, critically ill patients (≥ 18 years) who were admitted to the intensive care unit due to COVID-19 were included. Patient characteristics, laboratory data, radiologic findings, treatments, and complications were analyzed in the study. Results: A total of 249 patients (median age 71, 69.1% male) were included in the study. 28-day mortality was 67.9% (n = 169). The median age of deceased patients was 75 (66-81). Of them, 68.6% were male. Cerebrovascular disease, dementia, chronic kidney disease, and malignancy were significantly higher in the deceased group. In the multivariate analysis, sepsis/septic shock (OR, 15.16, 95% CI, 3.96-58.11, p < 0.001), acute kidney injury (OR, 4.73, 95% CI, 1.55-14.46, p = 0.006), acute cardiac injury (OR, 9.76, 95% CI, 1.84-51.83, p = 0.007), and chest CT score higher than 15 (OR, 4.49, 95% CI, 1.51-13.38, p = 0.007) were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality. Conclusion: Early detection of the risk factors and the use of chest CT score might improve the outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19, critical care, tomography, mortality, risk factors, SARS-CoV-2

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