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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic created a nation-wide lockdown with hospital services resorting only to the emergency sections. Dermatology out-patient was closed with majority of services being deferred for a later date or through online platform. Here, we try to find whether Nepalese dermatologists were contributing to sciences through research. Methods: A Google Scholar search using certain key words to search for publications done by Nepalese dermatologist during the pandemic was done for year 2020-2021 described as pandemic period. Similar search was conducted for year 2018-2019 for the same time frame called as pre-pandemic. All the publications were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: A total of 197 publications were retrieved for pandemic period as compared to only 106 published articles in the non-pandemic period. Among 197 publications, 81 (41.11%) were published in PubMed indexed journal as compared to only 40 (37.73%) publications out of 106 total publications during the earlier period. However, the increase in the number was not statistically significant. Conclusion: An interest among Nepalese dermatologists for academic publications was noted during the pandemic period. This might be due to the proper use of time during the lockdown and closure of out-patient department.

The clinical presentation, biochemical characteristics, and outcomes of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 can vary in different populations. The purpose of the study is to assess the clinical presentation and identify predictors of mortality among patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome admitted to different critical care units in Nepal.An observational study was conducted among the confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patients admitted to different critical care units in seven provinces of Nepal. Retrospective data was collected for the period of three months (April 14, 2021 to July 15, 2021) in relation to the peak of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. Clinical, biochemical and mortality data were collected from the admitted patients of different critical care units. Univariate logistic regression analysis was done among the selected variables at 5% significance. Final predictor variables were identified after multiple regression analysis.Out of total of 646 patients admitted to critical care units of different provinces of Nepal, there was a male predominance 420 (65%). A total of 232(35.91 %) patients were non-survivors with the majority of mortality occurring in patients50 years of age. Cough (72.3 %), shortness of breath (70.9%) and fever (56 %) were the most common presenting clinical features. Increasing age, presence of comorbidity, critical COVID-19 cases, respiratory rate, temperature, serum urea and alanine aminotransferase were identified as predictors of mortality after multiple regression analysis.Approximately 36 % of the confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patient admitted to critical care units did not survive. There was a male preponderance with most casualties occurring in patients more than 50 years of age. Cough, shortness of breath and fever were the most common presenting features. After multiple regression analysis of the identified clinical and biochemical factors, age, presence of comorbidity, respiratory rate, temperature, severity grade as per the World Health Organization classification, serum urea and alanine aminotransferase were identified as the predictors of mortality.