Indicators that determine disease course in COVID-19 patients

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Internal Medicine
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) poses significant challenges in predicting patient outcomes.
• Identifying factors influencing the clinical course of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine factors affecting the clinical course of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
• To compare clinical and laboratory parameters between different patient groups based on disease severity and outcome.

Main Methods:

• A single-center, retrospective cohort study included 658 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
• Patients were compared based on ward vs. ICU admission, intubation status, and mortality.
• Clinical data and laboratory findings were analyzed to identify significant predictors.

Main Results:

• Patients admitted to the ICU (Group 2) exhibited more comorbidities and higher KDIGO stages, older age, and elevated inflammatory markers compared to ward patients (Group 1).
• Intubated patients (Group I) had more comorbidities, higher mortality, older age, and increased D-dimer and ferritin levels compared to non-intubated patients (Group NI).
• Deceased patients (Group M) were predominantly male and showed higher CRP and LDH levels compared to survivors (Group NM).

Conclusions:

• Comorbidity, clinical features, and laboratory findings are significant predictors of the clinical course in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
• These parameters can aid in early identification of patients at risk for severe disease progression.
• The study highlights the utility of routine clinical and laboratory data in managing COVID-19 patients.