Clinical Characteristics, Comorbidities,and Outcome among 365 Patients of Coronavirus Disease 2019 at a Tertiary Care Centre in Central India.

RATIONALE: The knowledge about the presenting characteristics, comorbidity, and outcomes of Indian patients for COVID-19 is limited. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients in Central India and to evaluate risk factors leading to requirement of oxygen, mechanical ventilation and mortality. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this retrospective, we included 365 RT-PCR confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG Institute, Indore, Madhya Pradesh from March 25, 2020 to May 15, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 365 patients - 329 adults (Median age 49 years, 58.66% males) and 36 pediatric patients (Median age 10.5 years) were included. There was presence of comorbidity in 47.11% adults with most common being hypertension (24.92%), and diabetes (25.18%). 45.28% of adult patients were asymptomatic at presentation, with fever as the most common symptom (38.29%) and epidemiological contact history present in 69.90%. During hospitalization, 14.52% adults (median age, 50 years; 49.05% male) were on oxygen support, and 13% received mechanical ventilation (median age, 54 years; 63.26% male). As of May 15 2020, 8.4% adult patients died(median age, 57 years; 67.74% male). Presence of Lymphopenia, and Comorbid condition were identified as risk factors for requirement of oxygen, mechanical Ventilation and death. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This case series provides characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients in Indore region.

The predictive ability of SAPS II, APACHE II, SAPS III, and APACHE IV to assess outcome and duration of mechanical ventilation in respiratory intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: The objective is to determine utility of SAPS II, APACHE II, SAPS III, and APACHE IV scoring system in assessing outcome in mechanically ventilated patients in respiratory intensive care unit and to predict duration of mechanical ventilation (MV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective observational study where 83 mechanically ventilated patients were grouped into Group 1 (n1 = 40, NIV) and Group 2 (n2 = 43, Invasive ventilation) was conducted. SAPS II, APACHE II, SAPS III, and APACHE IV scores based predicted mortality (PM) were collected at day 1, and day 3. Outcomes (on day 7) were grouped into negative and positive. (NIV-negative outcome = Home NIV, intubation or death; positive outcome = NIV free. Invasive group-positive outcome = Extubation; negative outcome = Death). Binary logistic regression was applied to predict duration of MV (> or < 5 days). RESULTS: The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 trials comparisons of PM on day 1 with SAPS II (P < 0.05) and APACHE IV (P < 0.007) were significant predictors of clinical outcomes in Group 1 where as in Group 2, none of the system could predict significantly. On day 3, Group 1 analysis revealed SAPS II (P < 0.002), SAPS III (P < 0.03), and APACHE IV (P < 0.004) based PM as significant predictors of outcome. APACHE II (P < 0.05) and APACHE IV (P < 0.02) PM were significant in Group 2. On day 3, APACHE IV could significantly predict (P < 0.05) duration of MV (>5 or < 5) while A-a gradient (P < 0.09) predicted poorly in Group 1. In Group 2, APACHE IV was a poor predictor (P < 0.09). Two full logistic regression models were also formulated for both the groups. CONCLUSION: Study concludes that day 3 severity scores are more significant predictors of outcome and duration. APACHE IV scoring system was found more effective than other systems, not only significantly differentiating outcomes of MV but also predicting duration of NIV.

Effect of proning in patients with COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure receiving noninvasive oxygen therapy.

BACKGROUND: Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with hypoxemic respiratory failure. Mechanical ventilation (MV) is reported to have high mortality in SARS-CoV-2 acute respiratory distress syndrome. We aimed to investigate whether awake prone positioning (PP) can improve oxygenation and prevent intubation when employed early. METHODS: This prospective interventional study included proven coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with room air saturation 93% or less. The primary outcome was the rate of intubation between the two groups. The secondary outcomes included ROX index (SpO2/FiO2%/respiratory rate, breaths/min) at 30 min following the intervention, ROX index at 12 h, time to recovery of hypoxemia, and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 45 subjects were included (30 cases and 15 controls) with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 53.1 (11.0) years. The age, comorbidities, and baseline ROX index were similar between the two groups. The median duration of PP achieved was 7.5 h on the 1st day. The need for MV was higher in the control group (5/15; 33.3%) versus prone group (2/30; 6.7%). At 30 min, there was a statistically significant improvement in the mean (SD) ROX index of cases compared with that of the controls (10.7 [3.8] vs. 6.7 [2.6], P < 0.001). No significant adverse effects related to intervention were noted. CONCLUSION: Awake PP is associated with significant improvement in oxygenation and may reduce the need for MV in subjects with COVID-19.

Factors associated with mortality among moderate and severe patients with COVID-19 in India: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Large data on the clinical characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 in the Indian population are scarce. We analysed the factors associated with mortality in a cohort of moderately and severely ill patients with COVID-19 enrolled in a randomised trial on convalescent plasma. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data from a Phase II, Open Label, Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Convalescent Plasma to Limit COVID-19 Associated Complications in Moderate Disease. SETTING: 39 public and private hospitals across India during the study period from 22 April to 14 July 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 464 patients recruited, two were lost to follow-up, nine withdrew consent and two patients did not receive the intervention after randomisation. The cohort of 451 participants with known outcome at 28 days was analysed. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Factors associated with all-cause mortality at 28 days after enrolment. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age was 51±12.4 years; 76.7% were males. Admission Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was 2.4±1.1. Non-invasive ventilation, invasive ventilation and vasopressor therapy were required in 98.9%, 8.4% and 4.0%, respectively. The 28-day mortality was 14.4%. Median time from symptom onset to hospital admission was similar in survivors (4 days; IQR 3-7) and non-survivors (4 days; IQR 3-6). Patients with two or more comorbidities had 2.25 (95% CI 1.18 to 4.29, p=0.014) times risk of death. When compared with survivors, admission interleukin-6 levels were higher (p<0.001) in non-survivors and increased further on day 3. On multivariable Fine and Gray model, severity of illness (subdistribution HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.35, p<0.001), PaO2/FiO2 ratio <100 (3.47, 1.64-7.37, p=0.001), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio >10 (9.97, 3.65-27.13, p<0.001), D-dimer >1.0 mg/L (2.50, 1.14-5.48, p=0.022), ferritin ≥500 ng/mL (2.67, 1.44-4.96, p=0.002) and lactate dehydrogenase ≥450 IU/L (2.96, 1.60-5.45, p=0.001) were significantly associated with death. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of moderately and severely ill patients with COVID-19, severity of illness, underlying comorbidities and elevated levels of inflammatory markers were significantly associated with death. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CTRI/2020/04/024775.

An interesting case summary of tubercular pneumonia masquerading as viral pneumonia kept on extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation.

Mortality in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis remains high, especially in those who develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We herein, report a case of 40 year old female, with ARDS due to severe pulmonary tuberculosis. She was admitted in the intensive care unit of a tertiary care centre. Owing to very poor ABG report, she was intubated and put on Mechanical ventilator support. Bronchoscopy was performed and BAL was extracted, which showed no growth. Further deterioration of gas exchange prompted the decision to put her on ECMO. During her stay on ECMO, she developed massive inta-alveolar hemorrhage following which repeated bronchoscopic interventions were done to remove blood clots. BAL extracted on day 4 and day 8 showed growth of A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae respectively. But BALGeneXpert on day 8 came out to be positive for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and subsequently ATT was added to her treatment regimen. Her alveolar hemorrhage continued to worsen and subsequently ECMO was removed. After 12 days of hospitalization, she went on to develop bradycardia and could not be rescued. Though the patient's life was lost, this case provided many insights on the use of ECMO in the management of ARDS due to Pulmonary tuberculosis and it should be considered as one of the treatment options.

Neurological Symptoms as Initial Manifestation of Covid-19 - An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory system involvement and fever are considered as a cardinal manifestation of Covid-19 infection for the screening of case detection. We (India) are into the fourth month of Covid-19 and cases are still rising, this could mean that fever and respiratory symptoms may not be the only initial symptoms. Therefore, we intend to investigate whether neurological symptoms can precede the cardinal symptoms. METHODS: Totally, 391 Covid-19 RTPCR positive hospitalized patients were enrolled. All included subjects were presented with a questionnaire pertaining to systemic symptoms. For analysis of the chronology of symptoms, the study population was sub-grouped according to onset of their systemic involvement e.g., (1) Fever (2) Respiratory symptoms (3) Neurological symptoms (4) Gastrointestinal symptoms. RESULTS: New-onset neurological symptoms were found in 106 (27.1%) out of 391 patients irrespective of their chronology to the onset of other symptoms. Of these 106 patients, altered taste (33.1%), altered smell (24.5%), and headache (22.6%) were the most common neurological symptoms. However, 38 (9.7%) subjects recognized neurological symptoms, as the initial manifestation of their illness. Mean duration of neurological symptoms before the onset of respiratory symptoms or fever was 2 ± 1.57 days. CONCLUSION: New-onset headache, altered taste, and smell were the most common neurological symptoms. In the context of the current pandemic, a high index of suspicion should be kept in patients presenting with these symptoms even in the absence of fever and respiratory symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study from India comparing chronology of neurological symptoms with cardinal symptoms.

Urinothorax: A path, less travelled: Case report and review of literature.

Urinothorax is a very rare occurrence of urine in the pleural space. Urinothorax can occur as a consequence to percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), ureterorenoscopic lithotripsy (URSL) or shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). We herewith report a rare case of Urinothorax in a 35 years old male patient and discuss its current knowhow and clinical management.