Background Limited data is available for reliable and accurate predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods This scientific study is a retrospective cohort study of patients without a known history of liver diseases who were hospitalized with COVID-19 viral infection. Patients were stratified into low score groups (Model of End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD] score <10) and high score groups (MELD ≥10). Clinical outcomes were evaluated, including in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay, and intensive care unit length of stay (ICU LOS). Results Our cohort of 186 COVID-19 positive patients included 88 (47%) women with a mean age of 60 years in the low score group and mean age of 73 years in the high score group. Patients in the high score group were older in age (p<0.0001) and more likely to have history of diabetes mellitus (p=0.0020), stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD) (p=0.0013), hypertension (p<0.0001), stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) (p=0.0163), asthma (p=0.0356), dementia (p<0.0001), and chronic heart failure (p=0.0055). The in-hospital mortality or discharge to hospice rate was significantly higher in the high-score group as opposed to the low-score group (p=0.0014). Conversely, there was no significant difference among both groups in the hospital length of stay (LOS) and ICU LOS (p=0.6929 and p=0.7689, respectively). Conclusion Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection and found to have a MELD score greater than or equal to 10 were found to have a higher mortality as compared to their counterparts. Conversely a low MELD score is a very strong indicator of a more favorable prognosis, indicating hospital survival. We propose using the MELD score as an adjunct for risk stratifying patients diagnosed with COVID-19 without prior history of liver dysfunction.

Background: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted on a global scale, the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of the health care workers who provide the care at the end of life have not been evaluated. Objectives: To assess and understand palliative medicine and hospice care health care workers' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to COVID-19. Design: A web-based survey was created. Primary outcomes included attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge. Secondary outcomes included comparison in between health care workers who described themselves at high risk versus not at high risk of complications related to COVID-19 infection. Setting/Subjects: In total, 1262 adult hospice workers in the United States were invited. Results: A total of 348 workers completed the survey. Of them, 321 were analyzed, 54.52% were over the age of 50 years, 84.74% were females, 41.75% were nurses, 29.6% were administrative staff, and 6.54% were physicians. Of these workers, 39.56% considered themselves at high risk to develop complications related to COVID-19 infection, 74.46% felt neutral to uncomfortable treating these patients, 77.57% believed that the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) was adequate, 89.41% supported the risk-reduction strategies, 84.73% obtained information from health authorities, 25.55% from social media, 31.46% believed COVID-19 was likely created in a laboratory or intentionally, and 66.14% of hospice workers who considered themselves at high risk of complications felt available PPE was adequate to protect them compared with 85.05% of responders who did not consider themselves at high risk ( p < 0.0001). The majority of respondents were incorrect in seven of the eight clinical scenarios. Conclusion: Improving staff knowledge and information related to COVID-19 would enhance staff safety, improve patient care, and relieve anxiety.

Background Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an antimalarial medication that has been tested against various viral illnesses. The available evidence regarding the role of HCQ in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains controversial. Methods This is a comparative retrospective cohort study that aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HCQ in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The primary outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included ICU admission rate, mechanical ventilation, prolonged length of stay (LOS), QTc prolongation and cardiac arrest. Results A cohort of 175 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were included with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 66 [48-79] years. Of whom, 82 (47%) patients received HCQ. The overall mortality rate was 34.1%; 95% CI [23.7-44.6] and 16.1%; 95% CI [8.5-23.7] in the HCQ group vs. the control group, respectively (p = 0.67). A Cox regression analysis was performed adjusting for age, gender, BMI, SpO2/FiO2 ratio and CXR findings, and demonstrated that the association between HCQ use and the all-cause in-hospital mortality was not statistically significant (HR = 1.15; 95% CI [0.54-2.48]; p-value = 0.72). Patients who received HCQ were more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit, require mechanical ventilation and have a prolonged LOS compared to those who did not receive the medication. No statistically significant difference was found in the likelihood of QTc prolongation or cardiac arrest. Conclusions The use of HCQ in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 confers no benefit in patient morbidity or mortality.

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