Incidence, cumulative mortality and factors affecting the outcome of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis from Western India

PURPOSE: To report the incidence, cumulative mortality, and factors influencing the outcomes from a large series of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) from western India. METHODS: Consecutive patients with CAM between March 1 and May 10, 2021, with a minimum follow-up of 1 month were included. We recorded the presence of diabetes, use of steroids, and need for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) from the case files. The features of orbital involvement, treatment administered, and outcomes, i.e., death, orbital exenteration, or recovery were noted. Cumulative probability of adverse outcomes, defined as either death or exenteration, was reported using survival analysis. RESULTS: We treated 67 cases of CAM and found an incidence of 13.6 cases per 1,000 patients post-moderate to severe COVID-19. Uncontrolled diabetes (90%) with ketoacidosis (40%) and prior systemic steroids (84%) were the strongest predispositions. The onset of CAM was 15.1 ± 9.5 days (range: 6–42 days) after recovery from COVID-19. The cumulative probability of an adverse outcome was 38% (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 23.7–56.9%) on day 20. The patients who required NIV during COVID-19 were at seven times higher risk of experiencing an adverse outcome (hazard ratios [HR] = 6.92, 95% CI = 2.9–16.2) while those who received amphotericin– -B had a 61% lower risk (HR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.16–0.97). CONCLUSION: The current outbreak of CAM was seen predominantly in uncontrolled diabetics, especially with ketoacidosis and steroid intake. The cumulative probability of death or orbital exenteration was 38% at day 20 of the infection and those who required NIV and did not receive amphotericin-B were at a high risk of these outcomes.