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01-12-2022 | Coronavirus | Research

Characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU: a nationwide cohort study on the comparison between the first and the consecutive upsurges of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands

Authors: Dave A. Dongelmans, Fabian Termorshuizen, Sylvia Brinkman, Ferishta Bakhshi-Raiez, M. Sesmu Arbous, Dylan W. de Lange, Bas C. T. van Bussel, Nicolette F. de Keizer, the Dutch COVID-19 Research Consortium

Published in: Annals of Intensive Care | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

Background

To assess trends in the quality of care for COVID-19 patients at the ICU over the course of time in the Netherlands.

Methods

Data from the National Intensive Care Evaluation (NICE)-registry of all COVID-19 patients admitted to an ICU in the Netherlands were used. Patient characteristics and indicators of quality of care during the first two upsurges (N = 4215: October 5, 2020–January 31, 2021) and the final upsurge of the second wave, called the ‘third wave’ (N = 4602: February 1, 2021–June 30, 2021) were compared with those during the first wave (N = 2733, February–May 24, 2020).

Results

During the second and third wave, there were less patients treated with mechanical ventilation (58.1 and 58.2%) and vasoactive drugs (48.0 and 44.7%) compared to the first wave (79.1% and 67.2%, respectively). The occupancy rates as fraction of occupancy in 2019 (1.68 and 1.55 vs. 1.83), the numbers of ICU relocations (23.8 and 27.6 vs. 32.3%) and the mean length of stay at the ICU (HRs of ICU discharge = 1.26 and 1.42) were lower during the second and third wave. No difference in adjusted hospital mortality between the second wave and the first wave was found, whereas the mortality during the third wave was considerably lower (OR = 0.80, 95% CI [0.71–0.90]).

Conclusions

These data show favorable shifts in the treatment of COVID-19 patients at the ICU over time. The adjusted mortality decreased in the third wave. The high ICU occupancy rate early in the pandemic does probably not explain the high mortality associated with COVID-19.

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Title: Characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU: a nationwide cohort study on the comparison between the first and the consecutive upsurges of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
Authors: Dave A. Dongelmans
Fabian Termorshuizen
Sylvia Brinkman
Ferishta Bakhshi-Raiez
M. Sesmu Arbous
Dylan W. de Lange
Bas C. T. van Bussel
Nicolette F. de Keizer
the Dutch COVID-19 Research Consortium
Publication date: 01-12-2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Keywords: Coronavirus
Care
COVID-19
Published in: Annals of Intensive Care / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 2110-5820
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13613-021-00978-3

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU: a nationwide cohort study on the comparison between the first and the consecutive upsurges of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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