Comparison of Patients with Severe COVID-19 Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit in South Africa During the First and Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Overview

Journal Afr J Thorac Crit Care Med

Date 2022 Apr 1

PMID 35359698

Authors

U Lalla

C F N Koegelenberg

B W Allwood

L N Sigwadhi

E M Irusen

A E Zemlin

T E Masha

R T Erasmus

Z C Chapanduka

H Prozesky

J Taljaard

A Parker

E H Decloedt

F Retief

T P Jalavu

V D Ngah

A Yalew

J L Tamuzi

N Baines

M McAllister

A Zumla

P S Nyasulu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), dominated by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Beta variant, has been reported to be associated with increased severity in South Africa (SA).

Objectives: To describe and compare clinical characteristics, management and outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in SA during the first and second waves.

Methods: In a prospective, single-centre, descriptive study, we compared all patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to ICU during the first and second waves. The primary outcomes assessed were ICU mortality and ICU length of stay (LOS).

Results: In 490 patients with comparable ages and comorbidities, no difference in mortality was demonstrated during the second compared with the first wave (65.9% v. 62.5%, p=0.57). ICU LOS was longer in the second wave (10 v. 6 days, p<0.001). More female admissions (67.1% v. 44.6%, p<0.001) and a greater proportion of patients were managed with invasive mechanical ventilation than with non-invasive respiratory support (39.0% v. 14%, p<0.001) in the second wave.

Conclusion: While clinical characteristics were comparable between the two waves, a higher proportion of patients was invasively ventilated and ICU stay was longer in the second. ICU mortality was unchanged.

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