Clinical and Laboratory Predictors of Mortality in Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Retrospective Study from India

OBJECTIVE: Wide arrays of laboratory parameters have been proposed by many studies for prognosis in COVID-19 patients. In this study, we wanted to determine if the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium—Coronavirus Clinical Characterization Consortium score in addition to certain clinical and laboratory parameters would help in predicting mortality. We wanted to determine if a greater severity score on chest x-ray at presentation translated to poor patient outcomes using the COVID-19 chest radiography score. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted at SDS TRC and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of chest diseases, Bangalore from March 2021 to June 2021. This study included 202 real-time-polymerase chain reaction-positive COVID-19 patients aged above 18 years admitted to the intensive care unit of our hospital. Demographic characteristics and baseline hematological and inflammatory markers (serum C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, troponin-I, ferritin, and d-dimer) were collected. Radiological severity on a chest x-ray was assessed using the validated COVID-19 chest radiography score. The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium—Coronavirus Clinical Characterization Consortium score was assigned to each patient within 24 hours of intensive care unit admission. Outcome studied was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: The overall mortality was 54.9% (111 cases). Age more than 50 years, >4 days of symptoms, peripheral oxygen saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio less than 200, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase >398.5 IU/L, and hypoalbuminemia (<2.95 g/dL) were detected as independent predictors of mortality. A significant correlation of risk stratification with mortality (P = .057) was seen with International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium—Coronavirus Clinical Characterization Consortium score. There was no significant correlation between the COVID-19 chest radiography score and mortality. CONCLUSION: Age >50 years, peripheral oxygen saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio <200, mean symptom duration of >4 days, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase, and hypoalbuminemia are independent predictors of mortality in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium—Coronavirus Clinical Characterization Consortium score was different in the survivors and deceased.