Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected millions of people worldwide, and several sociodemographic variables, comorbidities and care variables have been associated with complications and mortality. Objective To identify the factors associated with admission to intensive care units (ICUs) and mortality in patients with COVID-19 from 4 clinics in Colombia. Methods This was a follow-up study of a cohort of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March and August 2020. Sociodemographic, clinical (Charlson comorbidity index and NEWS 2 score) and pharmacological variables were identified. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables associated with the risk of admission to the ICU and death (p<0.05). Results A total of 780 patients were analyzed, with a median age of 57.0 years; 61.2% were male. On admission, 54.9% were classified as severely ill, 65.3% were diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome, 32.4% were admitted to the ICU, and 26.0% died. The factors associated with a greater likelihood of ICU admission were severe pneumonia (OR: 9.86; 95%CI:5.99–16.23), each 1-point increase in the NEWS 2 score (OR:1.09; 95%CI:1.002–1.19), history of ischemic heart disease (OR:3.24; 95%CI:1.16–9.00), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR:2.07; 95%CI:1.09–3.90). The risk of dying increased in those older than 65 years (OR:3.08; 95%CI:1.66–5.71), in patients with acute renal failure (OR:6.96; 95%CI:4.41–11.78), admitted to the ICU (OR:6.31; 95%CI:3.63–10.95), and for each 1-point increase in the Charlson comorbidity index (OR:1.16; 95%CI:1.002–1.35). Conclusions Factors related to increasing the probability of requiring ICU care or dying in patients with COVID-19 were identified, facilitating the development of anticipatory intervention measures that favor comprehensive care and improve patient prognosis.

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Background Critically ill patients are admitted to intensive care units so they can be comprehensively managed and provided with services not covered in general hospital wards, with the aim to increase their chances of survival. These procedures include invasive mechanical ventilation. Objective The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with survival in critically ill patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit of a tertiary-level hospital in Colombia. Methods This was a retrospective follow-up study of a cohort of adult patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit in San José de Buga Hospital, between 2017 and 2018. Sociodemographic, clinical, and pharmacological variables were identified. Using Cox regression, variables associated with survival and complications were identified. Results A total of 357 patients were analyzed. The average age was 64.8 ± 18.9 years, and 52.9% were male. The most frequent diagnoses were sepsis/septic shock (38.4%) and trauma (17.4%). The main factors associated with shorter survival were advanced age (HR 0.97; 95% CI 0.96–0.99), a diagnosis of septic shock (HR 0.29; 95% CI 0.18–0.48) or diabetes mellitus at admission (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.33–0.98), a healthcare-associated infection (HR 0.51; 95% CI 0.33–0.80), and the need for vasopressors (HR 0.36; 95% CI 0.22–0.59). The administration of systemic corticosteroids was associated with a higher probability of survival (HR 1.93; 95% CI 1.15–3.25). Conclusions The use of systemic corticosteroids was associated with a greater probability of survival in critically ill patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit. The identification of the variables associated with a higher risk of dying should allow care protocols to be improved, thereby extending the life expectancy of these patients.