ObjectiveThere have been few descriptions in the literature to date specifically examining initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient presentation to the emergency department (ED) and the trajectory of patients who develop critical illness. Here we describe the ED presentation and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 presenting during our initial local surge. MethodsThis is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study using data extracted from the electronic health records at 3 hospitals within a single health system from March 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020. Patients were included in the study if they presented to an ED and had laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during the study period. Data elements were extracted from the electronic health record electronically and by trained data abstractors and entered into a secure database. We used multivariable regression analysis to examine ED factors associated with the development of critical illness and mortality, with a primary outcome of ICU admission. ResultsA total of 330 patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were admitted during the study period. Of these, 112 (34%) were admitted to the ICU. Among these patients, 20% were female, 50% were White, the median age was 61 (interquartile range [IQR], 52-72), and the median body mass index (BMI) was 28.1 (IQR, 24.3-35.1). On univariable analysis, a doubling of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (odds ratio [OR], 3.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.40-6.27) or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP; OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.11-1.57) above the reference range or elevated troponin (OR, 12.1; 95% CI, 1.20-121.8) were associated with ICU admission. After adjusting for age, sex, and BMI, LDH was the best predictor of ICU admission (OR, 3.54; 95% CI, 2.12-5.90). Of the patients, 15% required invasive mechanical ventilation during their hospital course, and in-hospital mortality was 19%. ConclusionsNearly one-third of ED patients who required hospitalization for COVID-19 were admitted to the ICU, 15% received invasive mechanical ventilation, and 19% died. Most patients who were admitted from the ED were tachypneic with elevated inflammatory markers, and the following factors were associated with ICU admission: elevated hsCRP, LDH, and troponin as well as lower oxygen saturation and increased respiratory rate.

BACKGROUND: Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often develop acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and receive invasive mechanical ventilation. Much remains unknown about their respiratory mechanics, including the trajectories of pulmonary compliance and P-aO2/F-IO2, the prognostic value of these parameters, and the effects of prone positioning. We described respiratory mechanics among subjects with COVID-19 who were intubated during the first month of hospitalization. METHODS: We included patients with COVID-19 who were mechanically ventilated between February and May 2020. Daily values of pulmonary compliance, P-aO2, F-IO2, and the use of prone positioning were abstracted from electronic medical records. The trends were analyzed separately over days 1-10 and days 1-35 of intubation, stratified by prone positioning use, survival, and initial P-aO2/F-IO2. RESULTS: Among 49 subjects on mechanical ventilation day 1, the mean compliance was 41 mL/cm H2O, decreasing to 25 mL/cm H2O by day 14, the median duration of mechanical ventilation. In contrast, the P-aO2/F-IO2 on day 1 was similar to day 14. The overall mean compliance was greater among the non-survivors versus the survivors (27 mL/cm H2O vs 24 mL/cm H2O; P = .005), whereas P-aO2/F-IO2 was higher among the survivors versus the non-survivors over days 1-10 (159 mm Hg vs 138 mm Hg; P = .002) and days 1-35 (175 mm Hg vs 153 mm Hg; P < .001). The subjects who underwent early prone positioning had lower compliance during days 1-10 (27 mL/cm H2O vs 33 mL/cm H2O; P < .001) and lower P-aO2/F-IO2 values over days 1-10 (139.9 mm Hg vs 167.4 mm Hg; P < .001) versus those who did not undergo prone positioning. After day 21 of hospitalization, the average compliance of the subjects who had early prone positioning surpassed that of the subjects who did not have prone positioning. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory mechanics of the subjects with COVID-19 who were on mechanical ventilation were characterized by persistently low respiratory system compliance and P-aO2/F-IO2, similar to ARDS due to other etiologies. The P-aO2/F-IO2 was more tightly associated with mortality than with compliance.