Factors Associated with Intensive Care Hospitalization in Patients with Covid-19

Aim: In this study, it was aimed whether biochemical parameters, vital signs and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio
(NLR) values could be used in determining the indication for intensive care hospitalization in COVID-19
patients.
Patients and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in the emergency department
of a university hospital. Patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test who applied to our hospital on 1-31 July
2020 were included in the study. Laboratory results, demographic findings and clinical results of the patients
were collected electronically. The patients were divided into 3 groups as discharged, admitted to the service
or intensive care unit. The incidence and severity of symptoms, comorbidities, laboratory values, and NLR
values were compared between the groups.
Results: A total of 489 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the included patients was 48.69
+ 17.25 years, of which 260 (53.16%) were female. While 248 (50.9%) of these patients were discharged,
207 (42.3%) were taken to the service and 33 (6.7%) to the intensive care units. Age, heart rate, urea,
creatinine, CRP, D-dimer and NLR values of the patients admitted to the intensive care unit were higher
than the other groups, while oxygen saturation was statistically significantly lower in this group. Concomitant
systemic diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus, Essential Hypertension, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease were more common in those hospitalized in the intensive care unit. In multivariable analysis, oxygen
saturation (OR:0.803) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (OR:1.09) were found to be independent predictors of
the indication for hospitalization in the intensive care unit.
Conclusion: As a result of our study, we think that especially low oxygen saturation and high neutrophillymphocyte
ratio can be used in determining the indication for intensive care hospitalization in patients who
apply to the emergency department due to COVID-19.