Characteristics and outcomes of 974 COVID-19 patients in intensive care units in Turkey.

Abstract

Background: In our previous report on Turkish COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care, the 24 patients in a single ICU were elderly and mortality was high. We extended our analysis to include patients admitted to ten ICUs.

Objectives: Report the demographics, clinical features, imaging findings, comorbidities, and outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Design: Retrospective.

Setting: Intensive care unit.

Patients and methods: The study includes patients with clinical and radiological confirmed or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection who were admitted to ten ICUs between 15 March and 30 June 2020.

Main outcome measures: Clinical outcomes, therapies, and death during hospitalization SAMPLE SIZE: 974, including 571 males (58%).

Results: The median age (range) was 72 (21-101) years for patients who died (n=632, 64.9%) and 70 (16-99) years for patients who lived (n=432, 35.2%) (P<.001). APACHE scores, and SOFA scores were higher in patients who died than in those who survived (P<.001, both comparisons). Respiratory failure was the most common cause of hospitalization (82.5%), and respiratory failure on admission was associated with death (P=.013). Most (n=719, 73.8%) underwent invasive mechanical ventilation therapy.

Conclusions: The majority of patients admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of COVID-19 require respiratory support.

Limitations: Although the Turkish Ministry of Health made recommendations for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, patient management may not have been identical in all ten units.

Conflict of interest: None.