The Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Medical Association. It has a multidisciplinary and inter-professional focus that covers a broad range of topics relevant to physicians and other healthcare specialists.

SMJ // Article

Original Article

Risk Factors for Mortality in Mechanically Ventilated Patients with COVID-19 in a Mississippi Community Health System

Authors: S. Ijlal Babar, MD, Ashley E. Hawthorne, PharmD, BCCCP, Maggie R. Clarkson, RN, MSN

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate differences between survivors versus nonsurvivors undergoing mechanical ventilation for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–associated respiratory failure at two community medical centers.

Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort analysis of all adult patients mechanically ventilated for COVID-19–associated respiratory failure in two community hospital intensive care units in southern Mississippi from March 15, 2020 through October 10, 2020.

Results: Among 56 patients requiring mechanical ventilation, the mortality rate was 75% (42/56). Expired patients were intubated later (2 vs 5 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.314–0.8041, P = 0.0983), had lower PaO2:FiO2 ratios (65 vs 77.5 mm Hg, 95% CI 36.08–59.03, P = 0.6305), and tolerated lower levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (7.9 vs 12.6 cm H2O, 95% CI 0.1373–6.722, P = 0.0415) at the time of intubation.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that earlier intubation may be associated with reduced mortality in patients with COVID-19-associated respiratory failure and should be further evaluated in the form of a randomized controlled trial.
Posted in: Infectious Disease157

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