Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the characteristics of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who were hospitalized in our hospital in the first wave of the pandemic and the factors affecting the need for intensive care.

Methods: Patients aged 18 years and older, hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 between 01/04/2020-30/06/2020 were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were reviewed retrospectively from their files. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the factors predicting the need for intensive care.

Results: A total of 143 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were included in the study. Eighty-nine of the patients (62.2%) were male; the mean age was 59±15 years. 59.2% of the patients had at least one comorbidity. Thirty-nine (27.2%) patients developed the need for intensive care during their follow-up. Ferritin>400ng/ml (p:0.003, odds ratio-OR:15.2, 95% confidence interval- CI:2.479-93.2), severe involvement on thorax computed tomography (CT) (p:0.0, OR:44.92, 95% CI:5.681-355.3) were independent risk factors affecting the need for intensive care. The mortality rate was 23.1% in all patients included in the study, and the mortality rate was 84.6% in patients who needed intensive care.

Conclusions: In addition to typical pneumonia symptoms, ferritin values, thorax CT findings, can be used as indicators to distinguish patients who may need intensive care at an early stage. Considering these risks at the time of admission in the management of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 will lead to better results.