The Prevalence of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19—A Study Based on Data from the Polish National Hospital Register

Abstract

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious complication of COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ARDS among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Poland as well as to characterize clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19-associated ARDS. This is a retrospective, secondary analysis of epidemiological data from 116,539 discharge reports on patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Poland between March and December 2020. The overall prevalence of ARDS was 3.6%, respectively 2.9% among females, and 4.4% among males (p < 0.001). Of the 4237 patients hospitalized with COVID-19-associated ARDS, 3764 deaths were reported (88.8%). Participants aged 60 years and over had more than three times higher odds of COVID-19-associated ARDS. Men had higher odds of COVID-19-associated ARDS than women (OR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.45–1.65; p < 0.001). Patients with COVID-19 and diabetes had higher odds of COVID-19-associated ARDS (OR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.03–1.30; p = 0.01). Among patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS, older age, male sex (OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.03–1.56; p = 0.02), and presence of cardiovascular diseases (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.00–1.59; p = 0.048) were significantly associated with the risk of in-hospital death. Among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Poland, the prevalence of ARDS was relatively low, but the in-hospital mortality rate in patients with COVID-19-associated ARDS was higher compared to other EU countries.

Epidemiological Analysis of Diabetes-Related Hospitalization in Poland before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2014–2020

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mean duration of hospitalization increased both among patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a risk factor for severe COVID-19, so we can hypothesize that stabilization of the clinical condition of a patient hospitalized due to diabetes was an important priority for doctors, which influenced the duration of hospitalization [ 32 ]. In this study, a wide range of lengths of hospitalization was observed (as expressed in the values of standard deviations) that may indicate markable differences in diabetic care by hospitals and geographic regions.…”

“…Data are reported using the template specified by Polish law. All discharge reports are anonymous and contain information on age, gender, date of admission, date of discharge, primary diagnosis (cause of hospitalization), secondary diagnosis (co-existing diseases), the outcome of hospitalization, and medical procedures provided during the hospitalization [ 32 ]. Data on the patients’ medical conditions were filled by the physicians and based on ICD-10 codes (10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) [ 33 ].…”

Acute respiratory distress syndrome among patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to treatment center of Wollega University Referral Hospital, Western Ethiopia

“…A study conducted in China shows, the rate of mortality due to ARDS among COVID-19 cases was 39% [ 18 ]. The other pocket study conducted in a Polish national hospital shows the magnitude of mortality due to COVID-19 associated ARDS was 88.8% [ 19 ]. In addition, the health facilities are overburdened and increased utilization of critical care services by COVID-19 patients.…”

Effects of Drugs Formerly Proposed for COVID-19 Treatment on Connexin43 Hemichannels

“…Severely ill patients can rapidly progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome within a week. This is observed in 3.6-17% of hospitalized patients with global mortality ranging from 3.4% to 88% for all COVID-19 cases [13][14][15][16][17][18]. Furthermore, several hospitalized COVID-19 patients develop sepsis, which is triggered by the host's immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and leads to an aberrant inflammatory reaction or so-called cytokine storm [19].…”