Background Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) manifested by a broad spectrum of symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic manifestations to severe illness and death. The purpose of the study was to extensively describe the clinical features and outcomes in critically ill patients with COVID19 in Saudi Arabia. Method A multi-center, non-interventional, cohort study for all critically ill patients aged 18 years or older who are admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between March 1 st to August 31 st , 2020 with an objectively confirmed diagnosis of COVID19. The diagnosis of COVID19 was confirmed by Reverse Transcriptase–Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal and/or throat swabs. Multivariate logistic regression and generalized linear regression were used. We considered a P value of < 0.05 statistically significant. Results A total of 560 patients met the inclusion criteria. An extensive list of clinical features were associated with higher 30-days ICU mortality rate such as requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) or developing acute kidney injury within 24 hours of ICU admission, higher body temperature, white blood cells, blood glucose level, serum creatinine, fibrinogen, procalcitonin, creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase and Total iron-binding capacity. The most common complication during ICU stay was respiratory failure that required MV (71.4%), followed by acute kidney injury (AKI) and thrombosis with a proportion of 46.8% and 11.4% respectively. Conclusion Among patients with COVID19 who were admitted to the ICU, several variables were associated with increasing the risk of ICU mortality at 30 days. Respiratory failure that required MV, AKI and thrombosis were the most common complications during ICU stay.

Background Using vitamin K for correction of coagulopathy in critically ill patients is controversial with limited evidence. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin K in the correction of international normalized ratio (INR) elevation secondary to liver disease in critically ill patients. Method A retrospective study of critically ill patients with coagulopathy secondary to liver disease. The primary outcome was to evaluate the association between vitamin K administration and the incidence of new bleeding events in critically ill patients with INR elevation; other outcomes were considered secondary. Patients were categorized into two groups based on vitamin K administration to correct INR elevation. The propensity score was generated based on disease severity scores and the use of pharmacological DVT prophylaxis. Results A total of 98 patients were included in the study. Forty-seven patients (48%) received vitamin K during the study period. The odds of the new bleeding event was not statistically different between groups (OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.28-21.67, P = .42). Delta of INR reduction was observed with a median of 0.63 when the first dose is given ( P-value: <.0001). However the INR reduction with other subsequent doses of vitamin K was not statistically significant. Conclusion The administration of vitamin K for INR correction in critically ill patients with coagulopathy secondary to liver disease was not associated with a lower odds of new bleeding events. Further studies are needed to assess the value of vitamin K administration in critically ill patients with liver diseases related coagulopathy.

Background: Hepatic diseases have been associated with an increased risk of coagulopathy and increased odds of secondary thrombosis and bleeding. Using vitamin K for correction of coagulopathy in critically ill patients is controversial with limited evidence. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin K in the correction of international normalized ratio (INR) elevation secondary to liver disease in critically ill patients.Method: A retrospective study of adult ICU patients with coagulopathy secondary to liver disease admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia. The primary outcome was to evaluate the association between vitamin K administration and the incidence of new bleeding events in critically ill patients with INR elevation secondary to liver disease. Secondary outcomes were to evaluate the incidence of a new thrombotic event, and the degree of INR correction with vitamin K. Patients were divided into two groups based on vitamin K administration to correct INR elevation. The propensity score was generated based on disease severity scores and the use of pharmacological DVT prophylaxis. Results: A total of 98 patients were included in the study. Forty-seven patients (48%) received vitamin K during the study period. The incidence of the new bleeding event was not statistically different between groups (OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.28-21.67, P=0.42). Delta of INR reduction was observed with a median of 0.63 when the first dose is given (p-value: <.0001). However, other subsequent doses of vitamin K were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Using vitamin K for INR correction in critically ill patients with coagulopathy secondary to liver disease was not associated with a lower incidence of new bleeding events. Vitamin K was efficient in reducing INR level at the first dose, and other subsequent doses were not.

Background: Hepatic diseases have been associated with an increased risk of coagulopathy and increased odds of secondary thrombosis and bleeding. Using vitamin K for correction of coagulopathy in critically ill patients is controversial with limited evidence.Objective: To evaluate the efficacy as well as safety of vitamin K in correction of international normalized ratio (INR) elevation secondary to liver disease in critically ill patients.Setting: Tertiary teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia.Method: A retrospective case-control study of adult ICU patients with coagulopathy secondary to liver disease. A total of 98 patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on vitamin K administration to correct INR elevation. differences. The propensity score was generated based on disease severity scores to adjust group.Main outcomes: The primary outcome was to evaluate the association between vitamin K administration and the incidence of new bleeding events in critically ill patients with INR elevation secondary to liver disease. Secondary outcomes were to evaluate the incidence of a new thrombotic event and the degree of INR correction with vitamin K. Results: Forty-seven patients (48%) received vitamin K during the study period. The incidence of the new bleeding event was not statistically different between groups (OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.28-21.67, P=0.42). Delta of INR reduction was observed with a median of 0.63 when the first dose is given (p-value: <.0001). However, other subsequent doses of vitamin K were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Using vitamin K for INR correction in critically ill patients with coagulopathy secondary to liver disease was not associated with a lower incidence of new bleeding events. Vitamin K was efficient in reducing INR level at the first dose, other subsequent doses were not.Impacts on practice: 1. Routine use of vitamin K to correct PT/INR in critically ill patients with liver disease may need be re-evaluated.2. If the initial dose of vitamin K does not reverse INR elevation, subsequent doses may not have any effect.3. Using vitamin K to correct INR was not associated with a lower incidence of new bleeding events nor RBCs/Platelets transfusion than patients who did not receive it.

BackgroundA novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) manifested by a broad spectrum of symptoms, ranging from asymptomatic manifestations to severe illness and death. The purpose of the study was to extensively describe the clinical features and outcomes in critically ill patients with COVID19 in Saudi Arabia. MethodA multi-center, non-interventional, observational study for all critically ill patients aged 18 years or older who are admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between March 1st to August 31st, 2020 with an objectively confirmed diagnosis of COVID19. The diagnosis of COVID19 was confirmed by Reverse Transcriptase – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal and/or throat swabs. Multivariate logistic regression and generalized linear regression were used. We considered a P value of < 0.05 statistically significant. ResultsA total of 560 patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall survival rate was 52.6 % (295 patients). Moreover, the overall ICU mortality rate within 30 days was 42.3 % (237 patients). The median ICU length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, and mechanical ventilation duration were of 10 days (IQR 6.00-17.50), 17 days (IQR 11-25), and 9 days (IQR 3-17 days), respectively. The rate of ICU readmission for survival within three months was 9.7 %. An extensive list of clinical features was associated with ICU mortality rate within 30 days.ConclusionIn the most comprehensive report to date from Saudi Arabia, among patients with COVID19 who were admitted to the ICU, several variables were associated with increasing the risk of ICU death at 30 days, and the incidence of ICU mortality rate within 30 days 42.3%.