Characteristics and Outcomes of the Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Admitted to Intensive Care Units: Erciyes University COVID-19 Center Experience.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Materials and Methods: This study was performed retrospectively in a medical ICU. All patients admitted to were either laboratory-confirmed or clinically probable COVID-19 patients, and all patients admitted to our ICU during this period were enrolled in the study. Results: We enrolled 47 patients. The mean age was 68.4±13.4 years and 66% of patients were male. The most common co-morbidities were hypertension (66%) and cardiovascular diseases (40%). The mean APACHE II score was 22.4±8.5, and the first-day median SOFA score was 5 (range: 1-12). Hydroxychloroquine was the most common drug prescribed (78.7%). All patients received at least one antibiotic other than Azithromycin as the most common drug was Piperacillin-Tazobactam (63.8%). Among 47 patients, 55.3% (28 patients) who were admitted to the ICU needed invasive mechanical ventilation. Prone positioning was used in 23% (6 patients) of mechanically ventilated patients. The mean positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was 10±3 cm H2O. The median PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 200 (range, 91-458). The most common ventilator mode was SIMV-PSV volume-controlled mode. ICU mortality rate was 34% (16 patients). Conclusion: The most common reason to admit SARS-CoV-2 infected patients to our ICU was acute respiratory failure and hypoxemia during the first month of pandemics. COVID-19 patients have a high mortality rate when they develop severe disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]