Factors affecting mortality in COVID-19 patients in intensive care

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic affects the whole world, causing high mortality. Some clinical parameters have already been implemented to be followed up to prevent mortality, but there is still a need for further information about optimum follow-up parameters and cutoff values. We aimed to investigate the reliability of the parameters used in patient follow-up by comparing survivors and non-survivors. METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups as survivors and non-survivors.The parameters used in the follow-up of patients were evaluated for their prognostic value in the course of COVID-19. RESULTS: Of the 144 patients evaluated in our study, 57 patients were non-survivors (39.7%). Non-survivors were older with an average age of 67.8 years. Of the non-survivors, 59.6% were men. Male gender was found out to be associated with an increased risk concerning prognosis and mortality. The most common accompanying diseases were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In our study, it has been found that lymphocyte counts and levels of troponin, D-dimer, ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase are important prognostic predictors in estimating mortality risk. CONCLUSION: The use of prognostic markers appears to provide benefitsin estimating mortality in COVID-19 patients.