Evaluating the Factors Affecting COVID-19 Patients' Mortality in Arak in 2020.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a leading cause of death in the world in the last few years. This study has investigated various causes and risk factors that may lead to death due to this disease. Methods: From June to October 2020, 98 expired and 196 recovered patients were studied for risk factors, underlying diseases, and laboratory findings that could lead to disease progression and mortality. Results: There was a significant relationship in terms of blood pressure, age, oxygen saturation, tachycardia, tachypnea, the interval between the onset of symptoms and hospitalization, diabetes mellitus, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, history of opium abuse, C-reactive protein, white blood cell, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, creatinine elevation, elevated liver enzyme, creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, D-dimer, troponin, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, intensive care unit admission days, arrhythmia, sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute kidney injury (AKI), and the type of antiviral and antibiotic therapy between the two groups of patients. Conclusions: Mortality due to COVID-19 is affected by various causes such as age, underlying diseases, and complications that may occur in the course of the disease (e.g., arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and AKI). By accurately identifying these causes and risk factors, we can prevent these complications and the mortality from COVID-19.

Comparison of manual versus automated blood pressure measurement in intensive care unit, coronary care unit, and emergency room.

BACKGROUND: Accuracy of blood pressure (BP) measurement in clinical settings is one of the most concerns despite of promotion in techniques for the measurement of BP. Our aim was to compare automated versus manual BP measurement in intensive care unit (ICU), coronary care unit (CCU), and emergency room patients. METHODS: Totally, 117 patients in ICU, CCU, and emergency department were registered in the study. Demographic information was recorded. The cardioset heart monitoring device was used for measuring BP and mercury sphygmomanometer with appropriate cuffs was used for manual method. Then, the mean BP of two methods was compared based on different age, sex, weight, and disease findings. RESULTS: The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 124.526 mmHg, with minimum and maximum of 123.111 and 125.940 mmHg, respectively (Cronbach's alpha = 0.893); furthermore, mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 73.496 mmHg, with minimum and maximum of 72.718 and 74.247 mmHg, respectively (Cronbach's alpha = 0.852). SBP was significantly different between the two methods, and especially in patients below 60 years, hospitalized in ICU ward, overweight, mid-upper arm circumference below 27 cm, and with neurosurgery problems, it was higher by manual method (P < 0.050). Moreover, DBP was more in manual method in patients with female sex, below 60 years, hospitalized in ICU ward and with neurosurgery problems (P < 0.050). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that manual method in measurement of BP frequently shows higher BP, especially in patients admitted to hospitals-affecting up to 15 mmHg higher, and this discrepancy is more in critical situations.