Background Approximately 19% of people infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) progress to severe or critical stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a mortality rate exceeding 50%. We aimed to examine the characteristics, mortality rates, intubation rate, and length of stay (LOS) of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 disease with high oxygen requirements (critically ill). Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis in a single center in Brooklyn, New York. Adult hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 disease and high oxygen requirements were included. We performed multivariate logistic regression analyses for statistically significant variables to reduce any confounding. Results A total of 398 patients were identified between March 19th and April 25th, 2020 who met the inclusion criteria, of which 247 (62.1%) required intubation. The overall mortality rate in our study was 57.3% (n = 228). The mean hospital LOS was 19.1 ± 17.4 days. Patients who survived to hospital discharge had a longer mean LOS compared to those who died during hospitalization (25.4 ± 22.03 days versus10.7 ± 1.74 days). In the multivariate analysis, increased age, intubation and increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were each independently associated with increased odds of mortality. Diarrhea was associated with decreased mortality (OR 0.4; CI 0.16, 0.99). Obesity and use of vasopressors were each independently associated with increased intubation. Conclusions In patients with COVID-19 disease and high oxygen requirements, advanced age, intubation, and higher LDH levels were associated with increased mortality, while diarrhea was associated with decreased mortality. Gender, diabetes, and hypertension did not have any association with mortality or length of hospital stay.

Background Elderly patients with COVID-19 disease are at increased risk for adverse outcomes. Current data regarding disease characteristics and outcomes in this population is limited. Aim To delineate the adverse factors associated with outcomes of COVID- 19 patients ≥75 years of age. Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Patients were classified into mild/moderate, severe/very severe, and critical disease (intubated) based on oxygen requirements. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Results 355 patients aged ≥75 years hospitalized with COVID-19 between March 19th and April 25th, 2020 were included. Mean age was 84.3 years. One-third of the patients developed critical disease. Mean length of stay was 7.10 days. Vasopressors were required in 27%, with the highest frequency in the critical disease group (74.1%). Overall mortality was 57.2%, with a significant difference between severity groups (mild/moderate disease : 17.4%, severe/very severe disease : 71.3%, critical disease: 94.9%, p < 0.001). Increased age, dementia, and severe/very severe and critical disease groups were each significantly associated with increased odds for mortality while diarrhea was associated with decreased odds for mortality (OR : 0.12, 95% CI : 0.02-0.60, p < 0.05)]. None of the cardiovascular comorbidities were significantly associated with mortality. Conclusion Age and dementia are associated with increased odds for mortality in patients ≥75 years of age hospitalized with COVID-19. Those who require intubation have the greatest odds for mortality. Diarrhea as a presenting symptom was associated with lower odds for mortality.

Background: COVID-19 disease has disproportionately affected ethnic minorities in the US. Objective: To describe the characteristics and predictors of mortality and length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients of Hispanic ethnicity hospitalized for COVID-19 disease. Design: Retrospective cohort study of 162 patients. Setting: Tertiary care teaching hospital in Brooklyn, NY. Patients: Hispanic patients hospitalized with principal diagnosis of COVID-19 disease between March 8, and April 25, 2020. Methods: Patients were classified into mild/moderate, severe/very severe, and critical disease (intubated) based on oxygen requirements. The primary endpoint was overall mortality rate and the secondary endpoint was LOS. Results: Mean age was 55.6 years and 40.1% had critical disease. The overall mortality was 35.8%. Increasing age (OR:1.09, 95% CI:1.04, 1.13, p<0.001) and vasopressor use (OR:198.55, 95% CI:15.89, 2480.66, p<0.001) were each independently associated with increased odds for mortality. Steroid use was significantly associated with decreased odds for mortality (OR:0.05, 95% CI:0.004, 0.61, p<0.05). Mean LOS was 14 days. Severe/very severe disease was significantly associated with increased LOS while critical disease was significantly associated with decreased LOS. The use of hydroxychloroquine, steroids, antibiotics, vasopressor, blood transfusion, and diagnosis of bacteremia/fungemia were each significantly associated with increased LOS.  Spanish-speaking patients were older than English-speaking ones, however, there was no difference in mortality or LOS between the groups. Conclusion: Age and vasopressor use was associated with increased mortality in Hispanics. Steroid use was associated with decreased mortality but increased LOS. No difference in outcomes was observed between English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanics.

A novel coronavirus known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with a high rate of human-to-human transmission has emerged, resulting in a worldwide public health crisis of catastrophic proportions. Common initial symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) include fever, cough, fatigue, myalgia, and shortness of breath. Complications include acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute cardiac injury, acute kidney injury, and secondary infections [1,2]. There have been reports of patients infected with COVID-19 who either presented with muscle pain and rhabdomyolysis or developed muscle damage as a late complication during hospitalization [3-8].