Evolving profile of severe and critical COVID-19 according: Cases admitted to the University Hospital of Kinshasa (UHK) = the official name of the institution from March 24, 2020 to December 12, 2022

Abstract

Abstract Background: Severe and critical forms of COVID-19 require early conventional oxygen therapy. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the evolution of Severe and critical COVID-19 patients treated at the University Hospital of Kinshasa according to News score. Methods: This was a historical cohort study carried out at the COVID-19 Treatment Center (of the University Hospital of Kinshasa (UHK) from March 24, 2020 to December 12, 2022. The target population was all patients (1159) admitted to the intensive care unit of the COVID-19 Treatment Center of the UHK. All tests were two-tailed with 95% CI and considered significant when P-value was < 0.05. Results: Of a total of 1159 patients, severe and critical forms accounted for 84.2% (n=976), with the age category of patients over 60 years the most represented at 52.2% (n=605), with a mean age of 58.1±17.3 years. Severe and critical patients with at least one comorbidity 74.2% (n=724) were admitted to CTCO CUK and 84.6% (n=981) of these patients required respiratory support with conventional oxygen therapy. Factors predictive of lethality were the use of CPAP and mechanical ventilation with HRa (95% CI) of 0.001 and 0.002 respectively, age> 60 years and late referral to UHK. Conclusion: Ultimately, this study showed that severe COVID-19 patients require early and effective management.