Natural Course of COVID-19 and Independent Predictors of Mortality.

BACKGROUND: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, several biomarkers were shown to be helpful in determining the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of N-terminal pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-pro-BNP) in a cohort of patients with COVID-19. METHODS: One-hundred and seven patients admitted to the Covid Hospital of Messina University between June 2022 and January 2023 were enrolled in our study. The demographic, clinical, biochemical, instrumental, and therapeutic parameters were recorded. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. A comparison between patients who recovered and were discharged and those who died during the hospitalization was performed. The independent parameters associated with in-hospital death were assessed by multivariable analysis and a stepwise regression logistic model. RESULTS: A total of 27 events with an in-hospital mortality rate of 25.2% occurred during our study. Those who died during hospitalization were older, with lower GCS and PaO2/FiO2 ratio, elevated D-dimer values, INR, creatinine values and shorter PT (prothrombin time). They had an increased frequency of diagnosis of heart failure (p < 0.0001) and higher NT-pro-BNP values. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher NT-pro-BNP values and lower PT and PaO2/FiO2 at admission were independent predictors of mortality during hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that NT-pro-BNP levels, PT, and PaO2/FiO2 ratio are independently associated with in-hospital mortality in subjects with COVID-19 pneumonia. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm the results of this study.

Stratification of COVID-19 Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure for Response to High-Flow Nasal Cannula: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background and Objectives: In patients with COVID-19, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) are widely applied as initial treatments for moderate-to-severe acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. The aim of the study was to assess which respiratory supports improve 28-day mortality and to identify a predictive index of treatment response. Materials and Methods: This is a single-center retrospective observational study including 159 consecutive adult patients with COVID-19 and moderate-to-severe hypoxemic acute respiratory failure. Results: A total of 159 patients (82 in the CPAP group and 77 in the HFNC group) were included in the study. Mortality within 28 days was significantly lower with HFNC compared to CPAP (16.8% vs. 50%), while ICU admission and tracheal intubation within 28 days were significantly higher with CPAP compared to HFNC treatment (32% vs. 13%). We identified an index for survival in HFNC by including three variables easily available at admission (LDH, age, and respiratory rate) and the PaO2/FiO2 ratio at 48 h. The index showed high discrimination for survival with an AUC of 0.88, a negative predictive value of 86%, and a positive predictive value of 95%. Conclusions: Treatment with HFNC appears to be associated with greater survival and fewer ICU admission than CPAP. LDH, respiratory rate, age, and PaO2/FiO2 at 48 h were independently associated with survival and an index based on these variables allows for the prediction of treatment success and the assessment of patient allocation to the appropriate intensity of care after 48 h. Further research is warranted to determine effects on other outcomes and to assess the performance of the index in larger cohorts.

New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation and Early Mortality Rate in COVID-19 Patients: Association with IL-6 Serum Levels and Respiratory Distress.

Background and objectives: COVID-19 is associated with an aberrant inflammatory response that may trigger new-onset cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to assess the mortality risk in hospitalized COVID-19 patients according to IL-6 serum levels and new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) according to PaO2/FiO2 stratification. Materials and Methods: 175 COVID-19 patients (25 new-onset AF, 22 other types of AF and 128 no-AF) were included in this single-center, retrospective study; clinical and demographic data, vital signs, electrocardiograms and laboratory results were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome of the study was to evaluate the mortality rate in new-onset AF patients according to IL-6 serum levels and PaO2/FiO2 stratification. Results: The incidence of new-onset AF in the study population was 14.2%. Compared to the no-AF group, new-onset AF patients were older with a positive history of chronic kidney disease and heart failure, had higher IL-6, creatinine and urea serum levels whereas their platelet count was reduced. After PaO2/FiO2 stratification, 5-days mortality rate was higher in new-onset AF patients compared to patients with other types of AF and no-AF patients, and mortality risk increases 5.3 fold compared to no-AF (p = 0.0014) and 4.8 fold compared to other forms of AF (p = 0.03). Conclusions: New-onset AF is common in COVID-19 patients and is associated with increased IL-6 serum levels and early mortality. Further studies are needed to support the use of IL-6 as an early molecular target for COVID-19 patients to reduce their high rate of mortality.

IL-13 and IL-33 Serum Levels Are Increased in Systemic Sclerosis Patients With Interstitial Lung Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) mortality is extremely variable in its internal organ involvement. Pulmonary fibrosis occurs in up to 30% of the cases. Animal models provide evidence that IL-33 is able to induce both cutaneous and pulmonary fibrosis via increased IL-13 and in SSc patients the levels of IL-33 correlate with skin fibrosis. Our aim was to test whether both IL-33 and IL-13 are higher in patients with diffuse SSc and interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) compared to SSc patients without ILD and healthy controls. METHODS: Serum levels of IL-13 and IL-33 were measured in 30 SSc patients with diffuse disease and 30 healthy controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The extent of pulmonary fibrosis was assessed according to HRCT Warrick score. Pulmonary function tests included lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide, forced vital capacity and total lung capacity. RESULTS: Both IL-13 and IL-33 levels were increased in SSc patients compared to controls and significantly associated each other. DLco, FVC and TLC scores were inversely associated with IL-33 and IL-13 levels. Both IL-33 and IL-13 levels were significantly associated with the Warrick severity score and higher in the group of SSc patients with reduced pulmonary function compared to SSc patients with normal pulmonary function tests. CONCLUSION: The IL-13/IL-33 axis needs to be further explored in longitudinal studies of SSc-ILD patients to assess its validity as a biomarker and future treatment target, as does downstream mediator ST2.

Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Systemic Sclerosis: Focus on Interstitial Lung Disease.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (AHSCT) has been employed as treatment for severe systemic sclerosis (SSc) with high risk of organ failure. In the last 25 years overall survival and treatment-related mortality have improved, in accordance with a better patient selection and mobilization and conditioning protocols. This review analyzes the evidence from the last 5 years for AHSCT-treated SSc patients, considering in particular the outcomes related to interstitial lung disease. There are increasing data supporting the use of AHSCT in selected patients with rapidly progressive SSc. However, some unmet needs remain, such as an accurate patient selection, pre-transplantation analysis to identify subclinical conditions precluding the transplantation, and the alternatives for post-transplant ILD recurrence.

Emerging Evidence and Treatment Perspectives from Randomized Clinical Trials in Systemic Sclerosis: Focus on Interstitial Lung Disease.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex rare autoimmune disease with heterogeneous clinical manifestations. Currently, interstitial lung disease (ILD) and cardiac involvement (including pulmonary arterial hypertension) are recognized as the leading causes of SSc-associated mortality. New molecular targets have been discovered and phase II and phase III clinical trials published in the last 5 years on SSc-ILD will be discussed in this review. Details on the study design; the drug tested and its dose; the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study; the concomitant immunosuppression; the outcomes and the duration of the study were reviewed. The two most common drugs used for the treatment of SSc-ILD are cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil, both supported by randomized controlled trials. Additional drugs, such as nintedanib and tocilizumab, have been approved to slow pulmonary function decline in SSc-ILD. In this review, we discuss the therapeutic alternatives for SSc management, offering the option to customize the design of future studies to stratify SSc patients and provide a patient-specific treatment according to the new emerging pathogenic features of SSc-ILD.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chronic Neurological Disorders: Focus on Patients with Dementia.

The new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) represents a public health problem worldwide. COVID-19 triggers a maladaptive cytokine release commonly referred to as cytokine storm syndrome with increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, which also appears to contribute to chronic neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disorders' appearance, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. In this context, SARS-CoV-2 might enter the central nervous system through binding with the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptors which are highly expressed in glial cells and neurons. For this reason, an association between COVID-19, its dependent cytokine storm, and the development and/or progression of neurodegenerative disorders might be evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this review was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on neurodegenerative disorders, focusing on the possible increased mortality risk and/or deterioration of the clinical course of pre-existing chronic neurological diseases in patients with dementia.

The COVID-19 Assessment for Survival at Admission (CASA) Index: A 12 Months Observational Study.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease with a high rate of progression to critical illness. However, the stratification of patients at risk of mortality is not well defined. In this study, we aimed to define a mortality risk index to allocate patients to the appropriate intensity of care. Methods: This is a 12 months observational longitudinal study designed to develop and validate a pragmatic mortality risk score to stratify COVID-19 patients aged ≥18 years and admitted to hospital between March 2020 and March 2021. Main outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results: 244 patients were included in the study (mortality rate 29.9%). The Covid-19 Assessment for Survival at Admission (CASA) index included seven variables readily available at admission: respiratory rate, troponin, albumin, CKD-EPI, white blood cell count, D-dimer, Pa02/Fi02. The CASA index showed high discrimination for mortality with an AUC of 0.91 (sensitivity 98.6%; specificity 69%) and a better performance compared to SOFA (AUC = 0.76), age (AUC = 0.76) and 4C mortality (AUC = 0.82). The cut-off identified (11.994) for CASA index showed a negative predictive value of 99.16% and a positive predictive value of 57.58%. Conclusions: A quick and readily available index has been identified to help clinicians stratify COVID-19 patients according to the appropriate intensity of care and minimize hospital admission to patients at high risk of mortality.