Objective To examine the association between plasma levels of the soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and the incidence of severe complications of COVID-19. Methods 403 RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients were recruited and prospectively followed-up at a major hospital in the United Arab Emirates. The primary endpoint was time from admission until the development of a composite outcome, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, or death from any cause. Patients discharged alive were considered as competing events to the primary outcome. Competing risk regression was used to quantify the association between suPAR and the incidence of the primary outcome. Results 6.2% of patients experienced ARDS or ICU admission, but none died. Taking into account competing risk, the incidence of the primary outcome was 11.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.7–16.3) in patients with suPAR levels >3.91 ng/mL compared to 2.9% (95% CI, 0.4–5.5) in those with suPAR ≤3.91 ng/mL. Also, an increase by 1 ng/mL in baseline suPAR resulted in 58% rise in the hazard of developing the primary outcome (hazard ratio 1.6, 95% CI, 1.2–2.1, p =  0.003). Conclusion suPAR has an excellent prognostic utility in predicting severe complications in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

Background: SARS‐CoV‐2 was first reported in December 2019. The severity of COVID-19 infection ranges from being asymptomatic to severe infection leading to death. The aim of the study is to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients within the largest government healthcare facilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE. Methods: This paper is a retrospective cross-sectional study of all patients admitted to Abu Dhabi Healthcare services facilities (SEHA) between the period of March 1st until May 31st with a laboratory-confirmed test of SARS-CoV2, known as Coronavirus disease (COVID19). Variation in characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory values, length of hospital stay, treatment received and outcomes were examined. Data was collected from electronic health records available at SEHA health information system.Results: There were 9390 patients included; patients were divided into severe and non-severe groups. 721 (7.68%) patients required intensive care while the remaining majority (92.32 %) were mild-moderate cases. The mean age (41.8 years) is less than the mean age reported globally. Our population had a male predominance and variable representation of different nationalities. Three major comorbidities were noted, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. The laboratory tests that were significantly different between the severe and the non-severe groups were LDH, Ferritin, CRP, neutrophil count, IL6 and creatinine level. The major antiviral therapies the patients have received were a combination of hydroxychloroquine and favipiravir. The overall in hospital mortality was 1.63% while severe group mortality rate was 19.56 %. The Death rate in the adults younger than 30 years was noted to be higher compared to elderly patients above 60 years, 2.3% and 0.9 % respectively. Conclusion: our analysis suggests that Abu Dhabi had a relatively low morbidity and mortality rate and a high recovery rate compared to published rates in China, Italy and The United States. The demographic of the population is younger and has an international representation. The country had the highest testing rate in relation to the population volume. We believe the early identification and younger demographic had affected the favorable comparative outcome in general with early identification of cases leading to a lower mortality rate.

Background Studies indicate that ethnicity and socioeconomic disparity are significant facilitators for COVID-19 mortality. The United Arab Emirates, distinctly has a population of almost 12% citizens and the rest, immigrants, are mainly unskilled labourers. The disparate socio-economic structure, crowded housing conditions, and multi-ethnic population offer a unique set of challenges in COVID-19 management. Methods Patient characteristics, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes data from the electronic patient medical records were retrospectively extracted from the hospital information system of the two designated public COVID-19 referral hospitals. Chi-square test, logistic regression, and odds ratio were used to analyse the variables. Results From, the total of 3072 patients, less than one-fifth were females; the Asian population (71.2%);followed by Middle Eastern Arabs (23.3%) were the most infected by the virus. Diabetes Mellitus (26.8%), hypertension (25.7%) and heart disease (9.6%) were the most prevalent comorbidities observed among COVID-19 patients. Kidney disease as comorbidity significantly diminished the survival rates (Crude OR 9.6, 95% CI (5.6–16.6), p < 0.001) and (Adjusted OR 5.7 95% CI (3.0 – 10.8), p < 0.001), as compared to those patients without kidney disease. Similarly, the higher age of patients between 51 and 65 years, significantly decreased the odds for survival (Crude OR 14.1 95% CI (3.4–58.4), p < 0.001) and (Adjusted OR 12.3 95% CI (2.9 – 52.4), p < 0.001). Patient age beyond 66 years, further significantly decreased the odds for survival (Crude OR 36.1 95% CI (8.5–154.1), p < 0.001), and (Adjusted OR 26.6 95% CI (5.7 – 123.8), p < 0.001). Conclusion Our study indicates that older ages above 51 years and kidney disease increased mortality significantly in COVID-19 patients. Ethnicity was not significantly associated with mortality in the UAE population. Our findings are important in the management of the COVID-19 disease in the region with similar economic, social, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) was first reported in December 2019. The severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ranges from asymptomatic to severe and potentially fatal. We aimed to describe the clinical and laboratory features and outcomes of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 within the Abu Dhabi Healthcare Services Facilities (SEHA). Methods Our retrospective analysis of patient data collected from electronic health records (EHRs) available from the SEHA health information system included all patients admitted from 1 March to 31 May 2020 with a laboratory-confirmed PCR diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data of clinical features, co-morbidities, laboratory markers, length of hospital stay, treatment received and mortality were analysed according to severe versus non-severe disease. Results The study included 9390 patients. Patients were divided into severe and non-severe groups. Seven hundred twenty-one (7.68%) patients required intensive care, whereas the remaining patients (92.32%) had mild or moderate disease. The mean patient age of our cohort (41.8 years) was lower than the global average. Our population had male predominance, and it included various nationalities. The major co-morbidities were hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. Laboratory tests revealed significant differences in lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and creatinine levels and the neutrophil count between the severe and non-severe groups. The most common anti-viral therapy was the combination of Hydroxychloroquine and Favipiravir. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 1.63%, although the rate was 19.56% in the severe group. The mortality rate was higher in adults younger than 30 years than in those older than 60 years (2.3% vs. 0.95%). Conclusions Our analysis suggested that Abu Dhabi had lower COVID-19 morbidity and mortalities rates were less than the reported rates then in China, Italy and the US. The affected population was relatively young, and it had an international representation. Globally, Abu Dhabi had one of the highest testing rates in relation to the population volume. We believe the early identification of patients and their younger age resulted in more favourable outcomes.