Risk factors for death in patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to an intensive care unit

Aim. Severe COVID-19 is accompanied by reduced blood oxygen saturation, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ failure, all causing a significant deterioration of homeostasis associated with death. Here we aimed to study the risk factors for death in patients with severe COVID-19 who have been admitted to an intensive care unit.

Materials and Methods. The study included 144 consecutive patients with severe COVID-19 who have been admitted to an intensive care unit of Kuzbass Clinical Hospital from August to December 2020. Groups of survivors and non-survivors were equal in number (n = 72) and matched by gender (36 men and women) and age (median age 64 years, interquartile range 56-70 years in survivors and 58-69 years in non-survivors). Complete blood count, urinalysis, biochemical analysis, coagulation testing, and measurement of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG were carried out in all patients immediately upon the admission to intensive care unit.

Results. Risk factors for death in severe COVID-19 at the admission to intensive care unit were arterial hypertension, chronic heart failure, peripheral atherosclerosis, impaired renal homeostasis (reduced glomerular filtration rate, elevated serum creatinine and urea, proteinuria, hematuria), augmented fasting blood glucose and lactate, neutrophilia (in men), lymphopenia and increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (in women), and decreased IgM/IgG to SARS-CoV-2 (in women).

Conclusion. We found both independent and gender-specific risk factors for death due to COVID-19.

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