Risk factors associated with COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit hospitalisation in Guyana: A cross-sectional study

• Main Author: Steven A. Seepersaud
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association (T&TMA) 2021-10-01
• Series: Caribbean Medical Journal
• Subjects: covid-19; coronavirus; sars-cov-2; icu; hospitalisation
• Online Access: https://www.caribbeanmedicaljournal.org/2021/09/24/risk-factors-associated-with-covid-19-intensive-care-unit-hospitalisation-in-guyana-a-cross-sectional-study/
• ISSN: 2664-5599

Objective The purpose of the study was to determine risk factors associated with COVID-19 ICU hospitalisation at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Guyana. Methods A retrospective chart-review was conducted on all COVID-19 admissions from March to September 2020. The predictive factors were demographics, comorbidities, signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and laboratory findings on admission. Descriptive frequency analysis was done for all independent variables and the Chi-square test was used to compare differences between groups where suitable. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between the independent variables and the risk for ICU hospitalisation. Results There were 136 patients with COVID-19 at GPHC during March to September 2020 and after exclusion, 135 patients were used in the study. There were 72 (53.4%) patients who required non-ICU care, while 63 (46.6%) ICU care and average age ± SD (median) was 51 ±16 (n= 49) and 56 ±18 (n= 60), respectively. In the multivariate regression model, the odds of ICU admission for those aged 40-65 was 0.14 (p <.01) compared to those > 65 years. Patients with class 2 and above obesity had higher odds of ICU admission compared to non-obese patients OR 11.09 (p= .006). Patients with 2 and 3 or more comorbidities also had higher odds of ICU admission compared to those with no comorbidities OR 7.83 (p= .03) and 132 (p <.001), respectively. Patients with LDH 228-454 U/L and > 454 U/L on admission had higher odds of ICU admission compared to those with normal LDH OR 19.88 (p= .001) and 23.32 (p= .001), respectively. Patients with albumin < 3.50 mg/dL on admission also had higher odds of ICU admission compared to those with normal albumin OR 5.78 (p= .005). Conclusion Risk factors associated with ICU hospitalisation were advanced age, obesity, multiple comorbidities, elevated LDH and low albumin. Protecting the population at risk for ICU admission and prioritizing them for vaccination is recommended to reduce the risk of running out of ICU capacity.