Introduction Presenting outcomes of patients hospitalised for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) should be put in context and comparison with other facilities. Number of statistical parameters can be used to compare effectiveness of treatment, however varied methodology applied in studies can impede or hinder a reliable comparison. The aim of this study is to present outcomes of COVID-19 treatment in our facility using simplest parameters allowing for intercenter comparison – case fatality ratio (CFR), length of stay (LOS) and transparent patients characteristics, and to discuss factors affecting mortality in COVID-19. Methods The data were collected from patients hospitalized in COVID-19 general and ICU isolation wards in the University Clinical Centre (UCC) in Gdansk, Poland, from November 2020 to June 2021, using a computer-based patient record system. The group consisted of 642 patients – 144 (39,1 %) were women and 391 (60,9 %) were men, with a median age of 69 (IQR 59-78) years. Values of LOS and CFR were calculated and analysed. Results Overall CFR for the analysed period was 24,8 %, varying from 19,9 % in January to May 2021 to 33,8 % in November to December 2020. CFR was 18,9 % in general ward and 70,7 % in ICU. All ICU patients required intubation and mechanical ventilation, and forty-four (75,9 %) of them developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Average length of stay was 13,1 (± 7,1) days. Conclusion CFR in the general ward in UCC was analogous to published outcomes, but higher in our ICU ward. It resulted from more rigorous ICU admittance criteria in UCC compared to other facilities, which corresponds with patients severe clinical condition and unfavourable prognosis. Heterogeneity of methods assessing initial clinical condition in different facilities makes a meaningful intercenter comparison challenging. In this study, we propose simple and transparent statistical and clinical parameters applicable in an intercenter analysis.

ObjectivesPresenting outcomes of patients hospitalised for COVID-19 should be put in context and comparison with other facilities. However, varied methodology applied in published studies can impede or even hinder a reliable comparison. The aim of this study is to share our experience in pandemic management and highlight previously under-reported factors affecting mortality. We present outcomes of COVID-19 treatment in our facility that will allow for an intercentre comparison. We use simple statistical parameters—case fatality ratio (CFR) and length of stay (LOS).SettingLarge clinical hospital in northern Poland serving over 120 000 patients annually.ParticipantsData were collected from patients hospitalised in COVID-19 general and intensive care unit (ICU) isolation wards from November 2020 to June 2021. The sample consisted of 640 patients—250 (39.1 %) were women and 390 (60.9 %) were men, with a median age of 69 (IQR 59–78) years.ResultsValues of LOS and CFR were calculated and analysed. Overall CFR for the analysed period was 24.8%, varying from 15.9 % during second quarter 2021 to 34.1% during fourth quarter 2020. The CFR was 23.2% in the general ward and 70.7% in the ICU. All ICU patients required intubation and mechanical ventilation, and 44 (75.9 %) of them developed acute respiratory distress syndrome. The average LOS was 12.6 (±7.5) days.ConclusionsWe highlighted the importance of some of the under-reported factors affecting CFR, LOS and thus, mortality. For further multicentre analysis, we recommend broad analysis of factors affecting mortality in COVID-19 using simple and transparent statistical and clinical parameters.

The emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 has challenged many aspects of the management of clinical care. It has negatively impacted the already overwhelmed healthcare system in Poland, leading to further limitation of access to specialist care, delay of treatment and even failure to initiate it. Patients with severe, rapidly progressing diseases such as cancer, are among those most adversely affected. Immunocompromised patients are prone to persistent COVID-19 infection and re-test positively even when asymptomatic. In this case report, the authors present an immunocompromised patient with follicular lymphoma and active tuberculosis, who re-tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in real-time polymerase chain reaction and rapid antigen tests twenty-two times over seventeen weeks of hospitalisation in the isolation ward in University Clinical Centre in Gdansk, Poland. The management of her oncological treatment was significantly disturbed by prolonged isolation and organisational issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic.