Comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics of hospitalized COVID‐19 patients with severe/critical illness in the first wave versus the second wave. Issue 1 (15th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sargin Altunok, Elif; Satici, Celal; Dinc, Veysel; Kamat, Sadettin; Alkan, Mustafa; Demirkol, Mustafa Asim; Toprak, Ilkim Deniz; Kostek, Muhammed Emin; Yazla, Semih; Esatoglu, Sinem Nihal
• Other Names: Luo Guangxiang (George) guestEditor.; Ly Hinh guestEditor.; Gao Shou‐Jiang guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical virology. Volume 94:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 291
• Page End: 297
• Publication Date: 2021-09-15
• Subjects: COVID‐19 -- demographic characteristics -- mortality -- the first versus second wave -- Turkey; Virology -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27319
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-6615

Abstract

Abstract: Due to current advances and growing experience in the management of coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19), the outcome of COVID‐19 patients with severe/critical illness would be expected to be better in the second wave compared with the first wave. As our hospitalization criteria changed in the second wave, we aimed to investigate whether a favorable outcome occurred in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients with only severe/critical illness. Among 642 laboratory‐confirmed hospitalized COVID‐19 patients in the first wave and 1121 in the second wave, those who met World Health Organization (WHO) definitions for severe or critical illness on admission or during follow‐up were surveyed. Data on demographics, comorbidities, C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels on admission, and outcomes were obtained from an electronic hospital database. Univariate analysis was performed to compare the characteristics of patients in the first and second waves. There were 228 (35.5%) patients with severe/critical illness in the first wave and 681 (60.7%) in the second wave. Both groups were similar in terms of age, gender, and comorbidities, other than chronic kidney disease. Median serum CRP levels were significantly higher in patients in the second wave compared with those in the first wave [109 mg/L (interquartile range [IQR]: 65–157) vs. 87 mg/L (IQR: 39–140); p < 0.001]. However, intensive care unit admission and mortality rates were similar among the waves. Even though a lower mortality rate in the second wave has been reported in previous studies, including all hospitalized COVID‐19 patients, we found similar demographics and outcomes among hospitalized COVID‐19 patients with severe/critical illness in the first and second wave. Highlights: Even though a lower mortality rate in the second wave has been reported in previous studies, including all hospitalized COVID‐19 patients, we found similar AQ4demographics and outcomes among hospitalized COVID‐19 patients with severe/critical illness in the first and second wave.