Acute and Critical Care

Original Articles

Pulmonary
Are sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors associated with improved outcomes in diabetic patients admitted to intensive care units with septic shock?: Nikita Ashcherkin, Abdelmohaymin A. Abdalla, Simran Gupta, Shubhang Bhatt, Claire I. Yee, Rodrigo Cartin-Ceba; Received August 19, 2023 Accepted March 16, 2024 Published online May 14, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01046 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF: Background
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been shown to reduce organ dysfunction in renal and cardiovascular disease. There are limited data on the role of SGLT2i in acute organ dysfunction. We conducted a study to assess the effect of SGLT2i taken prior to intensive care unit (ICU) admission in diabetic patients admitted with septic shock.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study used electronic medical records and included diabetic patients admitted to the ICU with septic shock. We compared diabetic patients on SGLT2i to those who were not on SGLT2i prior to admission. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included hospital and ICU length of stay, use of renal replacement therapy, and 28- and 90-day mortality.
Results
A total of 98 diabetic patients was included in the study, 36 in the SGLT2i group and 62 in the non-SGLT2i group. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III scores were similar in the groups. Inpatient mortality was significantly lower in the SGLT2i group (5.6% vs. 27.4%, P=0.008). There was no significant difference in secondary outcomes.
Conclusion
Our study found that diabetic patients on SGLT2i prior to hospitalization who were admitted to the ICU with septic shock had lower inpatient mortality compared to patients not on SGLT2i.

Cardiology
Implementation of Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions classification in patients with cardiogenic shock secondary to acute myocardial infarction in a spanish university hospital: Javier Pérez Cervera, Carlos Antonio Aranda López, Rosa Navarro Romero, Javier Corral Macías, Juan Manuel Nogales Asensio, José Ramón López Mínguez; Received December 19, 2023 Accepted March 6, 2024 Published online May 13, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01620 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
The Killip-Kimball classification has been used for estimating death risk in patients suffering acute myocardial infarction. Stage IV of this classification corresponds to cardiogenic shock. However, the ______ (SCAI) classification provides a more precise tool to classify patients according to shock severity. The aim of this study was to apply this classification to a cohort of Killip IV patients and to analyze the differences in death risk estimation between the two classifications.
Methods
A single-center retrospective cohort study of 100 consecutive patients hospitalized for “Killip IV Acute Myocardial Infarction” between 2016 and 2023 was performed to reclassify patients according to SCAI stage.
Results
Distribution of patients according to SCAI stages was: B=4%; C=53%; D=27%, E=16%. Thirty-day mortality increased progressively according to these stages (B=0%; C=11.88%; D=55.56%; E=87.50%; P<0.001). The exclusive use of Killip IV stage overestimated death risk compared to SCAI C (35% vs. 11.88%; P=0.002) and underestimated it compared to SCAI D and E stages (35% vs. 55.56% and 87.50%, respectively; P<0.05 for both). Multivariable Cox regression analysis provided 30-day mortality predictors for _____ (AMICS): age >69 years (hazard ratio [HR], 2.34; 95% CI, 1.15–4.86), creatinine >1.15 mg/dl (HR, 11.52; 95% CI, 1.43–92.77) and advanced SCAI stages (SCAI D: HR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.20–9.01 and SCAI E: HR, 6.21; 95% CI, 2.28–16.88; all P<0.05). Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) use showed an almost significant benefit in advanced SCAI stages (D and E: HR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.19–1.06; P=0.058).
Conclusions
SCAI classification showed superior death risk estimation compared to Killip IV. Age, creatinine levels and advanced SCAI stages were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. MCS could play a beneficial role in advanced SCAI stages.

Pediatrics
Mortality rates among adult critical care patients with unusual or extreme values of vital signs and other physiological parameters: a retrospective study: Charles Harding, Marybeth Pompei, Dmitriy Burmistrov, Francesco Pompei; Received October 26, 2023 Accepted March 6, 2024 Published online May 13, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01361 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF: Background
We evaluated relationships of vital signs and laboratory-tested physiological parameters with in-hospital mortality, focusing on values that are unusual or extreme even in critical care settings.
Methods
We retrospectively studied Philips Healthcare–MIT eICU data (207 U.S. hospitals, 2014–2015), including 166,959 adult-patient critical care admissions. Analyzing most-deranged (worst) value measured in the first admission day, we investigated vital signs (body temperature, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiratory rate) as well as albumin, bilirubin, blood pH via arterial blood gas (ABG), blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, FiO2 ABG, glucose, hematocrit, PaO2 ABG, PaCO2 ABG, sodium, 24-hour urine output, and white blood cell count (WBC).
Results
In-hospital mortality was ≥50% at extremes of low blood pH, low and high body temperature, low albumin, low glucose, and low heart rate. Near extremes of blood pH, temperature, glucose, heart rate, PaO2, and WBC, relatively small changes in measured values correlated with several-fold mortality rate increases. However, high mortality rates and abrupt mortality increases were often hidden by the common practice of thresholding or binning physiological parameters. The best predictors of in-hospital mortality were blood pH, temperature, and FiO2 (scaled Brier scores: 0.084, 0.063, and 0.049, respectively).
Conclusions
In-hospital mortality is high and sharply increasing at extremes of blood pH, body temperature, and other parameters. Common-practice thresholding obscures these associations. In practice, vital signs are sometimes treated more casually than laboratory-tested parameters. Yet, vitals are easier to obtain and we found they are often the best mortality predictors, supporting perspectives that vitals are undervalued.

Letter to the Editor

Neurology
Could fever dreams influence sleep in intensive care units?: Jeng Swen Ng, Sheryn Tan, Sanjana Santhosh, Brandon Stretton, Joshua Kovoor, Aashray Gupta, Stephen Bacchi; Received August 20, 2023 Accepted March 21, 2024 Published online May 7, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01074 [Epub ahead of print]

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Corrigendum

Pediatrics
Corrigendum to: Development of a deep learning model for predicting critical events in a pediatric intensive care unit: In Kyung Lee, Bongjin Lee, June Dong Park; Received March 15, 2024 Accepted March 15, 2024 Published online April 1, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01424.e1 [Epub ahead of print]; Corrects: Acute Crit Care 2024;39(1):186

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Original Article

Infection
Comparative evaluation of tocilizumab and itolizumab for treatment of severe COVID-19 in India: a retrospective cohort study: Abhyuday Kumar, Neeraj Kumar, Arunima Pattanayak, Ajeet Kumar, Saravanan Palavesam, Pradhan Manigowdanahundi Nagaraju, Rekha Das; Received August 1, 2023 Accepted February 4, 2024 Published online April 1, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.00983 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF: Background
Itolizumab downregulates the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules by inhibiting CD6 leading to lower levels of interferon-γ, interleukin-6, and tumor necrotic factor-α and reduced T-cell infiltration at inflammatory sites. This study aims to compare the effects of tocilizumab and itolizumab in the management of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Methods
The study population was adults (>18 years) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit receiving either tocilizumab or itolizumab during their stay. The primary outcome was clinical improvement (CI), defined as a two-point reduction on a seven-point ordinal scale in the status of the patient from initiating the drug or live discharge. The secondary outcomes were time until CI, improvement in PO2/FiO2 ratio, best PO2/FiO2 ratio, need for mechanical ventilation after administration of study drugs, time to discharge, and survival days.
Results
Of the 126 patients included in the study, 92 received tocilizumab and 34 received itolizumab. CI was seen in 46.7% and 61.7% of the patients in the tocilizumab and itolizumab groups, respectively and was not statistically significant (P=0.134). The PO2/FiO2 ratio was significantly better with itolizumab compared to tocilizumab (median [interquartile range]: 315 [200–380] vs. 250 [150–350], P=0.043). The incidence of serious adverse events due to the study drugs was significantly higher with itolizumab compared to tocilizumab (14.7% vs. 3.3%, P=0.032).
Conclusions
The CI with itolizumab is similar to tocilizumab. Better oxygenation can be achieved with itolizumab and it can be a substitute for tocilizumab in managing severe COVID-19.

Guideline

Pulmonary
Liberation from mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients: Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines: Tae Sun Ha, Dong Kyu Oh, Hak-Jae Lee, Youjin Chang, In Seok Jeong, Yun Su Sim, Suk-Kyung Hong, Sunghoon Park, Gee Young Suh, So Young Park; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(1):1-23. Published online February 28, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2024.00052

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
Successful liberation from mechanical ventilation is one of the most crucial processes in critical care because it is the first step by which a respiratory failure patient begins to transition out of the intensive care unit and return to their own life. Therefore, when devising appropriate strategies for removing mechanical ventilation, it is essential to consider not only the individual experiences of healthcare professionals, but also scientific and systematic approaches. Recently, numerous studies have investigated methods and tools for identifying when mechanically ventilated patients are ready to breathe on their own. The Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine therefore provides these recommendations to clinicians about liberation from the ventilator. Methods: Meta-analyses and comprehensive syntheses were used to thoroughly review, compile, and summarize the complete body of relevant evidence. All studies were meticulously assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method, and the outcomes were presented succinctly as evidence profiles. Those evidence syntheses were discussed by a multidisciplinary committee of experts in mechanical ventilation, who then developed and approved recommendations. Results: Recommendations for nine PICO (population, intervention, comparator, and outcome) questions about ventilator liberation are presented in this document. This guideline includes seven conditional recommendations, one expert consensus recommendation, and one conditional deferred recommendation. Conclusions: We developed these clinical guidelines for mechanical ventilation liberation to provide meaningful recommendations. These guidelines reflect the best treatment for patients seeking liberation from mechanical ventilation.

Review Article

Meta-analysis
The impact of ketamine on outcomes in critically ill patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials: Yerkin Abdildin, Karina Tapinova, Assel Nemerenova, Dmitriy Viderman; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(1):34-46. Published online February 28, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.00829

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Abstract PDF: Background
This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of ketamine in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients.
Methods
We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library; the search was performed initially in January but was repeated in December of 2023. We focused on ICU patients of any age. We included studies that compared ketamine with other traditional agents used in the ICU. We synthesized evidence using RevMan v5.4 and presented the results as forest plots. We also used trial sequential analysis (TSA) software v. 0.9.5.10 Beta and presented results as TSA plots. For synthesizing results, we used a random-effects model and reported differences in outcomes of two groups in terms of mean difference (MD), standardized MD, and risk ratio with 95% confidence interval. We assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane RoB tool for RCTs. Our outcomes were mortality, pain, opioid and midazolam requirements, delirium rates, and ICU length of stay.
Results
Twelve RCTs involving 805 ICU patients (ketamine group, n=398; control group, n=407) were included in the meta-analysis. The ketamine group was not superior to the control group in terms of mortality (in five studies with 318 patients), pain (two studies with 129 patients), mean and cumulative opioid consumption (six studies with 494 patients), midazolam consumption (six studies with 304 patients), and ICU length of stay (three studies with 270 patients). However, the model favored the ketamine group over the control group in delirium rate (four studies with 358 patients). This result is significant in terms of conventional boundaries (alpha=5%) but is not robust in sequential analysis. The applicability of the findings is limited by the small number of patients pooled for each outcome.
Conclusions
Our meta-analysis did not demonstrate differences between ketamine and control groups regarding any outcome except delirium rate, where the model favored the ketamine group over the control group. However, this result is not robust as sensitivity analysis and trial sequential analysis suggest that more RCTs should be conducted in the future.

Editorial

Cardiology
Nuances of pleural effusion after left ventricular assist devices implantation: insights from therapeutic drainage and preoperative predictors: Huijin Lee, Jeehoon Kang; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(1):192-193. Published online February 23, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2024.00157

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Original Articles

Trauma
Bedside ultrasonographic evaluation of optic nerve sheath diameter for monitoring of intracranial pressure in traumatic brain injury patients: a cross sectional study in level II trauma care center in India: Sujit J. Kshirsagar, Anandkumar H. Pande, Sanyogita V. Naik, Alok Yadav, Ruchira M. Sakhala, Sangharsh M. Salve, Aysath Nuhaimah, Priyanka Desai; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(1):155-161. Published online February 23, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01172

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Abstract PDF: Background
Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is an emerging non-invasive, easily accessible, and possibly useful measurement for evaluating changes in intracranial pressure (ICP). The utilization of bedside ultrasonography (USG) to measure ONSD has garnered increased attention due to its portability, real-time capability, and lack of ionizing radiation. The primary aim of the study was to assess whether bedside USG-guided ONSD measurement can reliably predict increased ICP in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Methods: A total of 95 patients admitted to the trauma intensive care unit was included in this cross sectional study. Patient brain computed tomography (CT) scans and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were assessed at the time of admission. Bedside USG-guided binocular ONSD was measured and the mean ONSD was noted. Microsoft Excel was used for statistical analysis. Results: Patients with low GCS had higher mean ONSD values (6.4±1.0 mm). A highly significant association was found among the GCS, CT results, and ONSD measurements (P<0.001). Compared to CT scans, the bedside USG ONSD had 86.42% sensitivity and 64.29% specificity for detecting elevated ICP. The positive predictive value of ONSD to identify elevated ICP was 93.33%, and its negative predictive value was 45.00%. ONSD measurement accuracy was 83.16%. Conclusions: Increased ICP can be accurately predicted by bedside USG measurement of ONSD and can be a valuable adjunctive tool in the management of TBI patients.

Trauma
The correlation between carotid artery Doppler and stroke volume during central blood volume loss and resuscitation: Isabel Kerrebijn, Sarah Atwi, Mai Elfarnawany, Andrew M. Eibl, Joseph K. Eibl, Jenna L. Taylor, Chul Ho Kim, Bruce D. Johnson, Jon-Émile S. Kenny; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(1):162-168. Published online February 23, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01095

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Abstract PDF: Background
Using peripheral arteries to infer central hemodynamics is common among hemodynamic monitors. Doppler ultrasound of the common carotid artery has been used in this manner with conflicting results. We investigated the relationship between changing common carotid artery Doppler measures and stroke volume (SV), hypothesizing that more consecutively-averaged cardiac cycles would improve SV-carotid Doppler correlation. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy volunteers were recruited and studied in a physiology laboratory. Carotid artery Doppler pulse was measured with a wearable, wireless ultrasound during central hypovolemia and resuscitation induced by a stepped lower body negative pressure protocol. The change in maximum velocity time integral (VTI) and corrected flow time of the carotid artery (ccFT) were compared with changing SV using repeated measures correlation. Results: In total, 73,431 cardiac cycles were compared across 27 subjects. There was a strong linear correlation between changing SV and carotid Doppler measures during simulated hemorrhage (repeated-measures linear correlation [Rrm ]=0.91 for VTI; 0.88 for ccFT). This relationship improved with larger numbers of consecutively-averaged cardiac cycles. For ccFT, beyond four consecutively-averaged cardiac cycles the correlation coefficient remained strong (i.e., Rrm of at least 0.80). For VTI, the correlation coefficient with SV was strong for any number of averaged cardiac cycles. For both ccFT and VTI, Rrm remained stable around 25 consecutively-averaged cardiac cycles. Conclusions: There was a strong linear correlation between changing SV and carotid Doppler measures during central blood volume loss. The strength of this relationship was dependent upon the number of consecutively-averaged cardiac cycles.

Cardiology
Diagnostic accuracy of left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral versus inferior vena cava collapsibility index in predicting post-induction hypotension during general anesthesia: an observational study: Vibhuti Sharma, Arti Sharma, Arvind Sethi, Jyoti Pathania; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(1):117-126. Published online February 23, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.00913

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Abstract PDF: Background
Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is being explored for dynamic measurements like inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVC-CI) and left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT-VTI) to guide anesthesiologists in predicting fluid responsiveness in the preoperative period and in treating post-induction hypotension (PIH) with varying accuracy. Methods: In this prospective, observational study on included 100 adult patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, the LVOT-VTI and IVC-CI measurements were performed in the preoperative room 15 minutes prior to surgery, and PIH was measured for 20 minutes in the post-induction period. Results: The incidence of PIH was 24%. The area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of the two techniques at 95% confidence interval was 0.613, 30.4%, 93.3%, 58.3%, 81.4%, 73.6% for IVC-CI and 0.853, 83.3%, 80.3%, 57.1%, 93.8%, 77.4% for LVOT-VTI, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the cutoff value for IVC-CI was >51.5 and for LVOT-VTI it was ≤17.45 for predicting PIH with odd ratio [OR] of 8.491 (P=0.025) for IVCCI and OR of 17.427 (P<0.001) for LVOT. LVOT-VTI assessment was possible in all the patients, while 10% of patients were having poor window for IVC measurements. Conclusions: We recommend the use of POCUS using LVOT-VTI or IVC-CI to predict PIH, to decrease the morbidity of patients undergoing surgery. Out of these, we recommend LVOT-VTI measurements as it has showed a better diagnostic accuracy (77.4%) with no failure rate.

Nutrition
Association of malnutrition status with 30-day mortality in patients with sepsis using objective nutritional indices: a multicenter retrospective study in South Korea: Moon Seong Baek, Young Suk Kwon, Sang Soo Kang, Daechul Shim, Youngsang Yoon, Jong Ho Kim; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(1):127-137. Published online February 20, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01613

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) have emerged as important nutritional indices because they provide an objective assessment based on data. We aimed to investigate how these nutritional indices relate to outcomes in patients with sepsis. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively at five hospitals for patients aged ≥18 years receiving treatment for sepsis between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. Serum albumin and total cholesterol concentrations, and peripheral lymphocytes were used to calculate the CONUT score and PNI. To identify predictors correlated with 30-day mortality, analyses were conducted using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The 30-day mortality rate among 9,763 patients was 15.8% (n=1,546). The median CONUT score was 5 (interquartile range [IQR], 3–7) and the median PNI score was 39.6 (IQR, 33.846.4). Higher 30-day mortality rates were associated with individuals with moderate (CONUT score: 5–8; PNI: 35–38) or severe (CONUT: 9–12; PNI: <35) malnutrition compared with those with no malnutrition (CONUT: 0–1; PNI: >38). With CONUT scores, the hazard ratio (HR) associated with moderate malnutrition was 1.52 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24–1.87; P<0.001); for severe, HR=2.42 (95% CI, 1.95–3.02; P<0.001). With PNI scores, the HR for moderate malnutrition was 1.29 (95% CI, 1.09–1.53; P=0.003); for severe, HR=1.88 (95% CI, 1.67–2.12; P<0.001). Conclusions: The nutritional indices CONUT score and PNI showed significant associations with mortality of sepsis patients within 30 days.

Pediatrics
Development of a deep learning model for predicting critical events in a pediatric intensive care unit: In Kyung Lee, Bongjin Lee, June Dong Park; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(1):186-191. Published online February 20, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01424; Correction in: https://doi.org/

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Abstract PDF: Background
Identifying critically ill patients at risk of cardiac arrest is important because it offers the opportunity for early intervention and increased survival. The aim of this study was to develop a deep learning model to predict critical events, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or mortality. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary university hospital. All patients younger than 18 years who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit from January 2010 to May 2023 were included. The main outcome was prediction performance of the deep learning model at forecasting critical events. Long short-term memory was used as a deep learning algorithm. The five-fold cross validation method was employed for model learning and testing. Results: Among the vital sign measurements collected during the study period, 11,660 measurements were used to develop the model after preprocessing; 1,060 of these data points were measurements that corresponded to critical events. The prediction performance of the model was the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% confidence interval) of 0.988 (0.9751.000), and the area under the precision-recall curve was 0.862 (0.700–1.000). Conclusions: The performance of the developed model at predicting critical events was excellent. However, follow-up research is needed for external validation.

Pulmonary
Factors related to lung function outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients in South Korea: Tae Hun Kim, Myung Jin Song, Sung Yoon Lim, Yeon Joo Lee, Young-Jae Cho; Acute Crit Care. 2024;39(1):100-107. Published online February 20, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.00668

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Background
New variants of the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continue to emerge. However, little is known about the effect of these variants on clinical outcomes. This study evaluated the risk factors for poor pulmonary lung function test (PFT). Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed 87 patients in a single hospital and followed up by performing PFTs at an outpatient clinic from January 2020 to December 2021. COVID-19 variants were categorized as either a non-delta variant (November 13, 2020–July 6, 2021) or the delta variant (July 7, 2021–January 29, 2022). Results: The median age of the patients was 62 years, and 56 patients (64.4%) were male. Mechanical ventilation (MV) was provided for 52 patients, and 36 (41.4%) had restrictive lung defects. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO ) were lower in patients on MV. Male sex (odds ratio [OR], 0.228) and MV (OR, 4.663) were significant factors for decreased DLCO . The duration of MV was associated with decreased FVC and DLCO . However, the type of variant did not affect the decrease in FVC (P=0.750) and DLCO (P=0.639). Conclusions: Among critically ill COVID-19 patients, 40% had restrictive patterns with decreased DLCO . The reduction of PFT was associated with MV, type of variants.

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