ABSTRACT
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a multisystem disease that primarily involves the respiratory tract. The first case of COVID-19 was identified in late 2019 in the province of Wuhan, China, which was followed by the rapid spread of the disease globally, becoming a present-day pandemic. Objectives The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes of critically sick patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, from March 2021 to August 2021. A total of 133 patients were chosen for this retrospective cohort study. Results There was a total of 133 patients, out of which 65 (48.9%) were male and 68 (51.1%) were female. Of these 133 patients, 70 (52.6%) were discharged home after recovery and 63 (47.4%) died; 96 (72.2%) patients had diabetes mellitus and of these, 53 (55.2%) patients died and 43 (44.8%) were discharged, 94 (70.7%) patients had hypertension, out of which 53 (56.4%) died and 41 (43.6%) were discharged home, 40 (30.1%) patients had ischemic heart disease (IHD), out of which 28 (70%) died and 12 (30%) were discharged. A total of 48 (36.1%) patients needed invasive positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) and 78 (58.6%) patients required noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). Conclusion Patients with one or more underlying co-morbidities had poor clinical outcomes compared to those with no co-morbidities, with the most vulnerable group being patients with Ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus in descending order.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The first case of Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was diagnosed in Wuhan, China in 2019. In the first half of 2020, this disease has already converted into a global pandemic. This study aimed to find that treatment of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia with Tocilizumab or steroids was associated with better outcomes. Objectives: To analyze the effectiveness of Tocilizumab in moderate to severe Covid-19 patients based on predefined assessment criteria . Study Settings: Single-center, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore. STUDY DESIGN: Quasi-experimental. DURATION OF STUDY: From May 12, 2020 to June 12, 2020. PATIENTS & METHODS SAMPLE SIZE AND TECHNIQUE: Sample size was 93; 33 patients were kept in the experimental group, given Tocilizumab, 8 mg/kg intravenously or 162 mg subcutaneously, and the rest of the 60 patients were given corticosteroids, methylprednisolone 80 mg/day. Consecutive sampling. Failure of therapy was labeled when patients were intubated or died, and the endpoints were failure-free survival which was the primary endpoint, and overall survival secondary at the time of discharge. RESULTS: A total of 93 patients were enrolled, the Tocilizumab (TCZ) group (case) and Corticosteroid (CS) group (Control). The median age was 58 years (IQR-21), 37 (39.8%) patients with diabetes mellitus, 11 (11.8%) in the TCZ group, and 26 (28%) in the CS group. On the whole, the total median hospital stay in days was 7 with IQR (4), a total of 83 (89.2%) patients recovered successfully and discharged, 27 (29%) in the TCZ group and 56 (60.2%) in the CS group. Total 10 (10.8%) patients died, out of which 6 (6.5%) belonged to the TCZ group and 4 (4.3%) belonged to the CS group The median Oxygen requirement with IQR was 8 (9) in both the groups and in total as well, p-value (0.714). CONCLUSIONS: Tocilizumab is a quite effective treatment option for critically sick patients of Covid-19 by reducing their oxygen requirement drastically and so the ICU stay, median hospital stay and so the mortality as well. CLINICALS TRIALS REGISTRATION: UIN # NCT04730323.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The first case of Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were diagnosed in Wuhan, China in 2019. In the first half of 2020 this disease has already converted into a global pandemic. Various treatment options were being tried all over the world. Some studies showed beneficial effects of corticosteroids in covid 19. Hence, we designed this study to compare the effect of two steroids in moderate to severe covid 19 disease. OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone and methylprednisolone in moderate to severe covid 19 disease. STUDY SETTINGS: Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore and Ganga Ram hospital, Lahore. STUDY DESIGN: Quasi experimental, interventional study. DURATION OF STUDY: From 1st June 2020 to 30th June 2020. METHODOLOGY: Sample size and technique: there were total 100 patients; 35 patients received dexamethasone and 65 were kept in methylprednisolone receiving group. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 57.91 years in dexamethasone group and 54.86 years in methylprednisolone group. In dexamethasone group, there were 15 (42.8%) critically ill patients who were shifted to Intensive care unit (ICU) and seven (20%) of them needed ventilatory support, whereas in methylprednisolone group 22 (33.8%) had to be admitted in ICU with eight (12.3%) patient needing ventilator. As outcome measure, patients in both the groups showed marked improvement in temperature, oxygen requirement and C-reactive protein (CRP) on day 5. Only six (17.1%) patient died who received dexamethasone while 10 (15.3%) patients died among those receiving methylprednisolone. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone and methylprednisolone both are equally effective in treating moderate to severe covid 19 disease.