Comparison of outcome and characteristics between 6343 COVID-19 patients and 2256 other community-acquired viral pneumonia patients admitted to Dutch ICUs
Sylvia Brinkman, Fabian Termorshuizen, Dave A. Dongelmans, Ferishta Bakhshi‐Raiez, M. Sesmu Arbous, Dylan W. de Lange, Nicolette F. de Keizer, D.P. Verbiest, L.F. te Velde, E. M. van Driel, Tom A. Rijpstra, Paul Elbers, Aletta P. I. Houwink, L. Georgieva, E. Verweij, Robert M. de Jong, F.M. van Iersel, T.J.J. Koning, Els Rengers, Nuray Kuşadasi, Michiel Erkamp, Roy van den Berg, C.J.M.G. Jacobs, Jelle L. Epker, A. A. Rijkeboer, M.T. de Bruin, Peter E. Spronk, Annelies Draisma, Dennis Versluis, A.E. van den Berg, Marissa Vrolijk-de Mos, Judith Lens, R.V. Pruijsten, Hans Kieft, J. Rozendaal, Fleur G. C. A. Nooteboom, Dirk P. Boer, Inge Janssen, Laura van Gulik, M.P. Koetsier, V.M. Silderhuis, Ronny M. Schnabel, I. Drogt, Wouter de Ruijter, Rob J. Bosman, Tim Frenzel, Louise C. Urlings‐Strop, Allard Dijkhuizen, I.Z. Hené, Adam Meijer, J.W.M. Holtkamp, Nienke L. Postma, Alexander J. G. H. Bindels, R.M.J. Wesselink, E.R. van Slobbe-Bijlsma, Peter H. J. van der Voort, Bob J.W. Eikemans, D. Jannet Mehagnoul‐Schipper, D. Gommers, Johan Lutisan, M. Hoeksema, M.G.W. Barnas, Barbara Festen‐Spanjer, M. van Lieshout, Niels Gritters, Martijn van Tellingen, Gert B. Brunnekreef, Joris Vandeputte, Tom Dormans, Mark Hoogendoorn, M De Graaff, D. Moolenaar, A. C. Reidinga, Jan Jaap Spijkstra, R. de Waal
Abstract
PURPOSE: Describe the differences in characteristics and outcomes between COVID-19 and other viral pneumonia patients admitted to Dutch ICUs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the National-Intensive-Care-Evaluation-registry of COVID-19 patients admitted between February 15th and January 1th 2021 and other viral pneumonia patients admitted between January 1st 2017 and January 1st 2020 were used. Patients' characteristics, the unadjusted, and adjusted in-hospital mortality were compared. RESULTS: 6343 COVID-19 and 2256 other viral pneumonia patients from 79 ICUs were included. The COVID-19 patients included more male (71.3 vs 49.8%), had a higher Body-Mass-Index (28.1 vs 25.5), less comorbidities (42.2 vs 72.7%), and a prolonged hospital length of stay (19 vs 9 days). The COVID-19 patients had a significantly higher crude in-hospital mortality rate (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.80), after adjustment for patient characteristics and ICU occupancy rate the OR was respectively 3.62 and 3.58. CONCLUSION: Higher mortality among COVID-19 patients could not be explained by patient characteristics and higher ICU occupancy rates, indicating that COVID-19 is more severe compared to other viral pneumonia. Our findings confirm earlier warnings of a high need of ICU capacity and high mortality rates among relatively healthy COVID-19 patients as this may lead to a higher mental workload for the staff.