- COVID-19 deaths in ICUs have decreased by about a third since the start of the outbreak.
- Although the decrease is substantial, health experts say the mortality rate for ICU patients with COVID-19 is higher than that seen with other viral pneumonias.
- Health experts think that better treatment and more resources can explain the drop in mortality.
New UK research suggests that the overall death rate for patients with intensive care unit (ICU) COVID-19 has decreased by about a third since the onset of the pandemic.
The study, published in the journal Anesthesia, tracked mortality in ICUs COVID-19 and recorded a decrease from more than 50 percent in March to 42 percent in May.
The findings are consistent across the globe, from Europe to Asia to North America.
Health experts suspect that the drop is due to some factors: ICU admission criteria have evolved, doctors have a better understanding of how to treat COVID-19 symptoms and complications, and healthcare facilities have more resources, compared to the start of the pandemic when The world was not ready.
Although the decrease is substantial, health experts say the mortality rate for ICU patients with COVID-19 is higher than that seen with other viral pneumonias.
“While we are pleased that the death rate has decreased and is not as high as in some of the previous reports, this still represents a dangerous disease with respect to the risk of death and more long-term disability risks,” said the Dr. Jonathan Siner, Yale Medicine Pulmonologist, Critical Care Physician, and Medical Director of the Medical ICU.
To better understand how the death rate has changed among COVID-19 patients in the ICU, the researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in 24 observational studies.
They examined the health outcomes of 10,150 patients and identified a massive drop in the mortality rate recorded in ICUs worldwide.
The rate fell from more than 50 percent in late March to 42 percent in late May.
According to the researchers, the findings are consistent across the world, despite continental differences in the treatments administered and the criteria for admission to the ICU.
Doctors are optimistic that the death rate is declining, but they say that the current death rate of 42 percent remains high.
In comparison, the death rate from other viral pneumonias treated in the ICU is around 22 percent, the study says.
“It’s definitely still high, double the usual ICU mortality from viral pneumonia,” said Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena, director of global health for Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York.
Furthermore, it is known that the symptom of acute respiratory distress (ARDS), a serious pulmonary complication in some patients with experience with COVID-19, has a mortality rate of
Siner says that the death rate for seriously ill patients with COVID-19 and ARDS is influenced by the severity of lung damage, if other organs such as the kidneys and brain are injured or inflamed, and if the patient has other health problems.
Doctors now have a better understanding of how to treat COVID-19 and the complications it causes, compared to the onset of the pandemic.
COVID-19 was a new disease in February and March, and doctors were in the early stages of experimenting with different treatment options.
Months later, doctors have identified some medications, such as remdesivir and corticosteroids, that improve the course of the disease.
Doctors also have a better idea of who should be admitted to the ICU and how to best manage their symptoms with oxygen and ventilators.
Cioe-Pena says that the greatest effect has been the optimization of supportive care protocols in the ICU.
Furthermore, health systems were previously unprepared for the unexpected increase in patients.
“Hospitals were overwhelmed and makeshift ICUs were created,” says Dr. Mangala Narasimhan, regional director of critical care medicine for Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York.
Some hospitals had to build their ICU wards to accommodate the influx of patients, others had to request more ventilators and ventilators, and healthcare providers lacked adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Because of this, several patients were not treated by ICU physicians, further contributing to the high mortality rate observed in March.
Overcrowding in the hospital and emergency department has a well-established mortality associated with them, says Cioe-Pena.
Approved closings at COVID-19 hot spots also allowed hospitals to take a break from the flood.
“There is no doubt that having a hospital (and a community) that is not overwhelmed would allow a sick patient to receive the best care possible, and looking at what has happened internationally and in the United States, there is no doubt that the ability and the ability to handle these large volumes of patients has improved with planning and is improving outcomes, “said Siner.
As cases increased, so did hospitalizations. The death rate may continue to drop. Although as some hospitals reach capacity, it could put pressure on the health system again, affecting the ability of doctors to adequately care for patients.
However, Siner expects the death rate to continue to drop.
“We continue to improve capacity and knowledge, and the benefits of steroids and remdesivir seem real, and both will be used fairly evenly in the future,” Siner said.
He believes that doctors will soon better understand how to treat the blood clots that many patients with severe cases of COVID-19 are experiencing.
“I think this will also help reduce mortality,” said Siner.
Although we have learned a lot about COVID-19 and how to treat it, there is much more we must discover before understanding the outbreaks.
“Like everything in infectious diseases, generally, the more experience we have with something, the better we can treat it,” said Cioe-Pena.
The more we understand COVID-19, the better patients will end up in the ICU.
New UK research suggests that the overall death rate for patients with intensive care unit (ICU) COVID-19 has decreased by about a third since the onset of the pandemic. Experts suspect that the decrease may be attributed to doctors knowing more about how to admit and treat people with COVID-19, and hospitals are more prepared to treat the influx of patients. As we learn more about COVID-19, health experts expect the death rate to continue to decline.
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