Project description:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to multiorgan damage and fatal outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are detectable in blood, reflecting cell activation and tissue injury. We performed small RNA-Seq in healthy controls (N=11), non-severe (N=18) and severe (N=16) COVID-19 patients
Project description:IntroductionICU patients with SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia are at risk to develop a central dysautonomia which can contribute to mortality and respiratory failure. The pupillary size and its reactivity to light are controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Pupillometry parameters (PP) allow to predict outcomes in various acute brain injuries. We aim at assessing the most predictive PP of in-hospital mortality and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IV).Material and methodsWe led a prospective, two centers, observational study. We recruited adult patients admitted to ICU for a severe SARS-CoV-2 related pneumonia between April and August 2020. The pupillometry was performed at admission including the measurement of baseline pupillary diameter (PD), PD variations (PDV), pupillary constriction velocity (PCV) and latency (PDL).ResultsFifty patients, 90 % males, aged 66 (60-70) years were included. Seven (14 %) patients died in hospital. The baseline PD (4.1 mm [3.5; 4.8] vs 2.6 mm [2.4; 4.0], P = 0.009), PDV (33 % [27; 39] vs 25 % [15; 36], P = 0.03) and PCV (3.5 mm.s-1 [2.8; 4.4] vs 2.0 mm.s-1 [1.9; 3.8], P = 0.02) were significantly lower in patients who will die. A PD value <2.75 mm was the most predictive parameter of in-hospital mortality, with an AUC = 0.81, CI 95 % [0.63; 0.99]. Twenty-four (48 %) patients required IV. PD and PDV were significantly lower in patients who were intubated (3.5 mm [2.8; 4.4] vs 4.2 mm [3.9; 5.2], P = 0.03; 28 % [25; 36 %] vs 35 % [32; 40], P = 0.049, respectively).ConclusionsA reduced baseline PD is associated with bad outcomes in COVID-19 patients admitted in ICU. It is likely to reflect a brainstem autonomic dysfunction.
Project description:BackgroundIn the context of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it has been reported that elderly patients are particularly at risk of developing severe illness and exhibiting increased mortality. While many studies on hospitalized elderly patients with COVID-19 have been published, limited information is available on the characteristics and clinical outcomes of those elderly patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU).AimTo review the available evidence of the clinical data of elderly patients admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19.MethodsWe searched for published articles available in English literature to identify those studies conducted in critically ill patients admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19, either exclusively designed for the elderly or for the whole ICU population with COVID-19, provided that analyses according to the patients' age had been conducted.ResultsOnly one study exclusively focusing on critically ill elderly patients admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19 was found. Eighteen additional studies involving 17011 ICU patients and providing information for elderly patients as a subset of the whole study population have also been included in the present review article. Among the whole patient population, included in these studies, 8310 patients were older than 65 years of age and 2630 patients were older than 70 years. Clinical manifestations were similar for all patients; however, compared to younger ones, they suffered from more comorbidities and showed a varied, albeit high mortality.ConclusionIn summary, at present, although elderly patients constitute a considerable proportion of critically ill patients admitted to the ICU due to severe COVID-19, studies providing specific information are limited. The evidence so far suggests that advanced age and comorbidities are associated with worse clinical outcome. Future studies exclusively designed for this vulnerable group are needed.
Project description:BackgroundProlonged viral RNA detection in respiratory samples from patients with COVID-19 has been described, but the clinical relevance remains unclear. We studied the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 on a group and individual level in intubated ICU patients.MethodsIn a cohort of 86 patients, we analysed SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results on nasopharyngeal and sputum samples (obtained as part of clinical care twice a week) according to time after intubation. Subsequently, we performed survival analyses.Results870 samples were tested by RT-PCR. Overall viral load was highest in the first week (median nasopharynx 3.5, IQR 1.5-4.3; median sputum 4.3, IQR 3.3-5.6) and decreased over time. In 20% of patients a relapsing pattern was observed. Nasopharyngeal and sputum PCR status on day 14 was not significantly associated with survival up to day 60 in this small cohort.ConclusionIn general SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in respiratory samples in patients with severe COVID-19 decrease after the first week after intubation, but individual SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels can show a relapsing pattern. Larger studies are needed to address the association of clearance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from respiratory samples with survival, because we observed a trend towards better survival in patients with early clearance from sputum.
Project description:Prognostic characteristics inform risk stratification in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We obtained blood samples (n = 474) from hospitalized COVID-19 patients (n = 123), non-COVID-19 ICU sepsis patients (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 30). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA was detected in plasma or serum (RNAemia) of COVID-19 ICU patients when neutralizing antibody response was low. RNAemia was associated with higher 28-day ICU mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.84 [95% CI, 1.22–2.77] adjusted for age and sex). In longitudinal comparisons, COVID-19 ICU patients had a distinct proteomic trajectory associated with RNAemia and mortality. Among COVID-19-enriched proteins, galectin-3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) and proteins of the complement system were identified as interaction partners of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Finally, machine learning identified ‘Age, RNAemia’ and ‘Age, pentraxin-3 (PTX3)’ as the best binary signatures associated with 28-day ICU mortality.
Project description:Prognostic characteristics inform risk stratification in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We obtained blood samples (n = 474) from hospitalized COVID-19 patients (n = 123), non-COVID-19 ICU sepsis patients (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 30). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA was detected in plasma or serum (RNAemia) of COVID-19 ICU patients when neutralizing antibody response was low. RNAemia was associated with higher 28-day ICU mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.84 [95% CI, 1.22–2.77] adjusted for age and sex). In longitudinal comparisons, COVID-19 ICU patients had a distinct proteomic trajectory associated with RNAemia and mortality. Among COVID-19-enriched proteins, galectin-3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) and proteins of the complement system were identified as interaction partners of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Finally, machine learning identified ‘Age, RNAemia’ and ‘Age, pentraxin-3 (PTX3)’ as the best binary signatures associated with 28-day ICU mortality.
Project description:BackgroundUnderstanding the long-term sequelae of severe COVID-19 remains limited, particularly in the United States.ObjectiveTo examine long-term outcomes of patients who required intensive care unit (ICU) admission for severe COVID-19.Design, patients, and main measuresThis is a prospective cohort study of patients who had severe COVID-19 requiring an ICU admission in a two-hospital academic health system in Southern California. Patients discharged alive between 3/21/2020 and 12/31/2020 were surveyed approximately 6 months after discharge to assess health-related quality of life using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®)-29 v2.1, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and loneliness scales. A preference-based health utility score (PROPr) was estimated using 7 PROMIS domain scores. Patients were also asked their attitude about receiving aggressive ICU care.Key resultsOf 275 patients admitted to the ICU for severe COVID-19, 205 (74.5%) were discharged alive and 132 (64%, median age 59, 46% female) completed surveys a median of 182 days post-discharge. Anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, ability to participate in social activities, pain interference, and cognitive function were not significantly different from the U.S. general population, but physical function (44.2, SD 11.0) was worse. PROPr mean score of 0.46 (SD 0.30, range -0.02 to 0.96 [<0 is worse than dead and 1 represents perfect health]) was slightly lower than the U.S. general population, with an even distribution across the continuum. Poor PROPr was associated with chronic medical conditions and receipt of life-sustaining treatments, but not demographics or social vulnerability. PTSD was suspected in 20% and loneliness in 29% of patients. Ninety-eight percent of patients were glad they received life-saving treatment.ConclusionMost patients who survive severe COVID-19 achieve positive outcomes, with health scores similar to the general population at 6 months post-discharge. However, there is marked heterogeneity in outcomes with a substantial minority reporting severely compromised health.
Project description:ImportanceThe psychological symptoms associated with having a family member admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic are not well defined.ObjectiveTo examine the prevalence of symptoms of stress-related disorders, primarily posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in family members of patients admitted to the ICU with COVID-19 approximately 90 days after admission.Design, setting, and participantsThis prospective, multisite, mixed-methods observational cohort study assessed 330 family members of patients admitted to the ICU (except in New York City, which had a random sample of 25% of all admitted patients per month) between February 1 and July 31, 2020, at 8 academic-affiliated and 4 community-based hospitals in 5 US states.ExposureHaving a family member in the ICU with COVID-19.Main outcomes and measuresSymptoms of PTSD at 3 months, as defined by a score of 10 or higher on the Impact of Events Scale 6 (IES-6).ResultsA total of 330 participants (mean [SD] age, 51.2 [15.1] years; 228 [69.1%] women; 150 [52.8%] White; 92 [29.8%] Hispanic) were surveyed at the 3-month time point. Most individuals were the patients' child (129 [40.6%]) or spouse or partner (81 [25.5%]). The mean (SD) IES-6 score at 3 months was 11.9 (6.1), with 201 of 316 respondents (63.6%) having scores of 10 or higher, indicating significant symptoms of PTSD. Female participants had an adjusted mean IES-6 score of 2.6 points higher (95% CI, 1.4-3.8; P < .001) than male participants, whereas Hispanic participants scored a mean of 2.7 points higher compared with non-Hispanic participants (95% CI, 1.0-4.3; P = .002). Those with graduate school experience had an adjusted mean score of 3.3 points lower (95% CI, 1.5-5.1; P < .001) compared with those with up to a high school degree or equivalent. Qualitative analyses found no substantive differences in the emotional or communication-related experiences between those with high vs low PTSD scores, but those with higher scores exhibited more distrust of practitioners.Conclusions and relevanceIn this cohort study, symptoms of PTSD among family members of ICU patients with COVID-19 were high. Hispanic ethnicity and female gender were associated with higher symptoms. Those with higher scores reported more distrust of practitioners.