<b><i>Background:</i></b> Most COVID-19 studies conclude old age and coexisting illnesses as mortality determinants owing to different populations or methodologies, or omitting factors affecting outcomes. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We analyzed COVID-19 patients’ data (<i>N</i> = 391) of Dubai Hospital between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2020. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Only 19 patients (4.8%) were UAE nationals, while 372 (95.2%) were expatriates. Median age was 48 (interquartile range, 40–56) years; 22% were &#x3c;40 years, and only 16.6% were female. Cough was the most common symptom (78.7%), fever was 77.4%, and gastrointestinal symptoms were least common (13.8%). Approximately 95% had elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimers (79%), lymphocytopenia 47.3%, and thrombocytopenia 13.8%. Mortality was 30% for the total sample and 50% in ICU patients. ICU patients were older than non-ICU (age; 49.6 ± 10.9 vs. 46.7 ± 12.7 years, <i>p</i> = 0.04). Eighty-five percent of ICU patients required invasive mechanical ventilation, 78% vasopressors, 88% sedation, 84% muscle paralysis, while none require any of these in the medical group. Survivors had fewer patients with sedatives (<i>p</i> = 0.01). The median length of stay in the hospital was 19 days, ICU stays 14 days, and ventilator 11 days. The Mann-Whitney test showed that survivors spent more days in the ICU (median [IQR] 18 [6.5–29.5] vs. 11 [4–18], <i>p</i> value 0.003) and the hospital (32 [14.5–49.5] vs. 14 [7–21], <i>p</i> value 0.001) than nonsurvivors. Ferritin and D-dimers were higher in nonsurvivors, but CRP was lower in nonsurvivors (ferritin (ng/mL) median (IQR) 1,434 (661.5–2206.5) versus 1,362 (630–2,094), <i>p</i> value = 0.017, CRP (mg/L) 118.7 (53.4–184) versus 134.9 (66.5–203.2), <i>p</i> value 0.001 and D-dimer (µg/mL) 1.54 (0–3.13) versus 1.09 (0–2.51), <i>p</i> value = 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis determined age, fever on admission, use of oxygen, mechanical ventilation, and steroids as predictors of survival. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> COVID-19 patients were young males with pre-existing conditions. Ferritin, CRP, and D-dimers were higher in nonsurvivors. Treatment with chloroquine, antivirals, and anticoagulation was not different between survivors and nonsurvivors. Steroid use was a survival predictor.

Background: Low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) strategy improves outcomes; however, despite recommended by guidelines, adherence to this practice is not high. Methods: Tidal volume for mechanically ventilated patients were recorded for each 12hour shift, day and night shifts for consecutive 101 patients. Adherence was determined by comparing these tidal volumes to standard low tidal volumes of 6 ml/kg of ideal body weight. Adherence rates were calculated and adherence rates of daytime shifts were compared to those of night time shifts. Adherence rates for weekday shifts were compared with those of weekend shifts. Clinical variables were recorded to analyze predictors of adherence pattern. Results: The sample size was 101 patients with 870 patient-ventilator days with 1734 patient ventilator shifts. Shift adherence was only 47.5%. There was no significant difference between day and night shifts or weekday and weekend shifts. Stepwise multiple regression analysis shows that age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) have significant correlation with adherence to LTVV practice. Conclusion: The study found that adherence to lung protective low tidal volume mechanical ventilation practice is low.

Introduction: Bloodstream infections are one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. Time to positive blood culture may be reflective of the severity of infection. We aim to study the impact of time to positivity (TTP) of blood culture upon clinical outcome. Methods: Data from blood cultures for 17 months duration reviewed. Outcome measures included in-hospital mortality and length of stay in ICU (LOSICU). TTP was determined for each sample. Demographics (age, gender, BMI, and nationality), APACHE-2 score for severity of illness, comorbid conditions, and other confounding factors were recorded. Results: One hundred and one patients with 346 positive blood cultures with mean age of 62 and mean APACHE-2 score of 18.9 + 9.7 (mean +SD) with overall observed mortality of 61%. Median TTP was 20.2 h with quartiles cutoff Q1 = 15.3, Q2 = 20.2, Q3 = 28, and range 8–104 h. Only APACHE-2 scores predict LOSICU. TTP is not a significant predictor for mortality or LOSICU. Discussion: Data on TTP of blood cultures have a complex interaction with clinical outcomes. Conclusion: TTP of blood cultures does not predict mortality or length of stay in ICU.

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The RECOVERY study documented lower 28-day mortality with the use of dexamethasone in hospitalized patients on invasive mechanical ventilation or oxygen with COVID-19 Pneumonia. We aimed to examine the practice patterns of steroids use, and their impact on mortality and length of stay in ICU. We retrospectively examined records of all patients with confirmed Covid 19 pneumonia admitted to the ICU of Dubai hospital from January 1st, 2020 – June 30th, 2020. We assigned patients to four groups (No steroids, low dose, medium dose, and high dose steroids). The primary clinical variable of interest was doses of steroids. Secondary outcomes were 28-day mortality and length of stay in ICU”. We found variability in doses of steroid treatment. The most frequently used dose was the high dose. Patients who survived were on significantly higher doses of steroids and had significantly longer stays in ICU. The prescription of steroids in Covid-19 ARDS is variable. The dose of steroids impacts mortality rate and length of stay in ICU, although patients treated with high dose steroids seem to stay more days in ICU.