Clinical profile and outcomes of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) patients who underwent Hemoperfusion (HP) in a tertiary COVID-19 referral hospital: A descriptive study

ABSTRACT

Introduction@#As of February 4, 2021, a total of 530,118 COVID-19 cases were recorded in the Philippines with a fatality rate of 2.1%. Significant morbidity from COVID-19 is caused by hyperinflammation. Hemoperfusion (HP), which adsorbs inflammatory cytokines, has been performed in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) as an adjunct to management given to COVID-19 patients. @*Objectives@#This study aimed to describe the clinical and laboratory profile, ventilatory support, therapeutic regimens, and outcomes of COVID-19 patients who underwent hemoperfusion in PGH. @*Methods@#The COVID-19 patient electronic database (April to September 2020) of the Division of Nephrology was reviewed and we included patients with COVID-19 who underwent hemoperfusion. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data as well as therapeutics and outcomes were described. @*Results@#Sixty-six patients with COVID-19 underwent hemoperfusion. The majority were male (59.1%) with an average age of 61.3 years (SD 15). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (62.1%). Acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis comprised 28.8% while 33.3% had diagnosed chronic kidney disease (CKD). The majority were critical COVID-19 cases who had acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (56.1%). The mean baseline inflammatory marker levels (Il-6, CRP, LDH, ferritin) were elevated. Post-HP inflammatory markers decreased except for IL-6 among patients who died. Most patients were mechanically ventilated (54.5%). Steroids were the most common medications administered (71.2%). Mortality occurred in 62.1% of the patients. The average length of hospital stay was 20.8 days (SD 19.5), duration from admission to first HP 5.9 days (SD 5.8), and 15.3 days (SD 17.4) from first HP to death or discharge. @*Conclusion@#Our study showed the characteristics of patients with COVID-19 who underwent HP. Majority were hypertensive men in their early 60s with critical COVID-19 disease. The mean inflammatory markers were elevated with a decrease in most markers post-hemoperfusion (except for IL-6 among those who died). Despite this, mortality was still high and the average length of hospital stay was long.