Table 2 Patients data on ICU admission and during ICU stay

Reason of ICU admission

 Shock

91 (6.1)

80 (5.8)

10 (10.9)

 Acute respiratory distress syndrome

1,289 (86.5)

1,197 (86.2)

87 (94.6)

 Decreased level of consciousness

145 (9.7)

142 (10.2)

1 (1.1)

 Diabetic ketoacidosis

11 (0.7)

9 (0.6)

1 (1.1)

 Post-operative monitoring

10 (0.7)

10 (0.7)

0

 Increased severity of COVID-19

40 (2.7)

40 (2.9)

0

 Acute coronary syndrome

5 (0.3)

5 (0.4)

0

 Likelihood to deteriorate

49 (3.3)

49 (3.5)

0

 Other

135 (9.1)

134 (9.6)

0

 Patient arrived from another hospital and was already intubated

162 (10.9)

111 (8)

50 (54.3)

 Patient was intubated and on mechanical ventilation during the ICU stay

817 (54.8)

725 (52.2)

92 (100)

 APACHE II score

38 ± 2.7 (29–40)

34 ± 4.1 (29–39)

42 ± 3.4 (33–47)

Vital signs in the first 24 h of ICU admission

 Systolic blood pressure, mmHg

124.9 ± 22.2 (48–206)

125.5 ± 21.9 (48–206)

112.4 ± 23.2 (71–190)

 Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg

70.6 ± 13.2 (33–129)

70.8 ± 13.1 (33–120)

66.6 ± 16.1 (43–129)

 Mean arterial pressure, mmHg

85.9 ± 16.6 (35–195)

85.9 ± 16.6 (35–195)

85.4 ± 17 (58–138)

 Heart rate, beats/minute

91.9 ± 20.8 (36–168)

91.4 ± 20.5 (36–168)

100.2 ± 23 (50–160)

 Respiratory rate, breaths/minute

26.7 ± 6.3 (4–41)

27 ± 6 (7–41)

21.7 ± 8 (4–40)

 O₂ saturation, %

83.4 ± 2.2 (60–100)

84.6 ± 4.2 (60–100)

83.1 ± 9.1 (60–100)

 Temperature (highest within the first 24 h), °C

37.2 ± 1.5 (15–40.2)

37.2 ± 1.4 (15–40.2)

36.9 ± 2.5 (16–39.9)

 Glasgow Coma Score

12.5 ± 4.5 (2–15)

12.8 ± 4.2 (2–15)

7.5 ± 5.7 (3–15)

Radiographic findings in the first 24 h of ICU admission

 Chest X-ray was done

1319 (88.5)

1,231 (88.6)

82 (89.1)

 Was chest X-ray consolidation present or absent?

  Present

1226 (82.2)

1,148 (82.6)

73 (79.3)

  Absent

83 (5.6)

76 (5.5)

7 (7.6)

X-ray chest radiography

  Unilateral abnormality

58 (3.9)

56 (4)

2 (2.2)

  Bilateral abnormality

1158 (77.7)

1085 (78.1)

68 (73.9)

Respiratory status in the first 6 h of ICU admission

 Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis

  pH

7.35 ± 0.13 (6.8–7.6)

7.35 ± 0.13 (6.8–7.6)

7.30 ± 0.11 (7–7.5)

  PaCO₂, mmHg

39.89 ± 11.01 (19–95.9)

39.68 ± 10.91 (19–95.9)

42.64 ± 12.39 (21.7–80)

  PaO₂, mmHg

69.8 ± 33.4 (38.4–375)

70.7 ± 34.5 (38.4–375)

60.4 ± 13.2 (40.3–101)

  O₂ saturation, %

81.9 ± 8.9 (60–100)

82.1 ± 8.9 (60–100)

77.6 ± 7.9 (63–88)

Mode of O₂ delivery at the time of gas sampling

 Nil

97 (6.5)

94 (6.8)

2 (2.2)

 NC

88 (5.9)

86 (6.2)

1 (1.1)

 FM

164 (11)

160 (11.5)

2 (2.2)

 NRM

330 (22.1)

320 (23)

7 (7.6)

 HFNO

238 (16)

235 (16.9)

3 (3.3)

 NIPPV/BiPAP

65 (4.4)

62 (4.5)

3 (3.3)

Oxygen flow rate and FiO₂ given by

 NC and FM: flow rate, L/minute

7 ± 8.6 (1–95)

6.98 ± 8.7 (1–95)

9.67 ± 5.5 (4–15)

 HFNO: flow rate, L/minute

45.1 ± 13.9 (0.8–100)

75 ± 13.9 (0.8–100)

79.6 ± 24.2 (30–60)

 HFNO: FiO₂, %

77.9 ± 23.1 (21–100)

77.7 ± 23.1 (21–100)

79.6 ± 24.2 (30–100)

 MV: FiO₂, %

79.6 ± 23.2 (21–100)

79.7 ± 23 (21–100)

91.7 ± 10.4 (80–100)

 During the ICU stay, patients required

  No oxygen supply was needed

102 (6.8)

102 (7.3)

0

  NC

327 (21.9)

324 (23.3)

1 (1.1)

  FM

317 (21.3)

308 (22.2)

6 (6.5)

  NRM

735 (49.3)

706 (50.8)

27 (29.3)

  Patient was started on HFNC

452 (30.3)

438 (31.5)

13 (14.1)

  HFNC use, days

4.82 ± 4.86 (1–38)

4.87 ± 4.9 (1–38)

2.9 ± 2.6 (1–9)

  HFNO: flow rate, L/minute

45.2 ± 14.6 (3–100)

45.2 ± 14.5 (5–100)

49.5 ± 14.8 (10–60)

  HFNO: FiO₂, %

85 ± 20.9 (25–100)

84.8 ± 21.1 (25–100)

93.3 ± 12.7 (55–100)

  Patient was started on BiPAP

210 (14.1)

199 (14.3)

10 (10.9)

  BiPAP use, days

3.9 ± 7.7 (1–100)

3.9 ± 7.9 (1–100)

3.6 ± 3.5 (1–12)

  BiPAP: FiO₂, %

84 ± 20.9 (10–100)

83.7 ± 21.2 (10–100)

92.2 ± 12 (70–100)

  Awake prone positioning was performed

358 (24)

341 (24.6)

15 (16.3)

  Awake prone positioning, days

4.4 ± 4 (1–28)

4.4 ± 4 (1–28)

4.4 ± 3.9 (1–15)

 Duration of prone positioning

  ≤ 4 days

147 (9.9)

140 (10.1)

7 (7.6)

  > 4 days

199 (13.3)

191 (13.8)

8 (8.7)

 Inhaled nitric oxide was used before intubation

13 (0.9)

11 (0.8)

2 (2.2)

 Use of renal replacement therapy (dialysis)

238 (16)

199 (14.3)

39 (42.4)

 Therapies patient underwent while being on mechanical ventilation

  Paralysis infusion

578 (38.8)

529 (38.1)

49 (53.3)

  Recruitment maneuvers

92 (6.2)

83 (6)

9 (9.8)

  Inhaled nitric oxide

69 (4.6)

59 (4.2)

10 (10.9)

  Prone positioning

356 (24.5)

338 (24.3)

26 (28.3)

  Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV)

22 (1.5)

19 (1.4)

3 (3.3)

  High Frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV)

13 (0.9)

9 (0.6)

4 (4.3)

Medications used (from hospital admission and during ICU stay)

Hydroxychloroquine

420 (28.2)

408 (29.4)

12 (13)

 Chloroquine

18 (1.2)

15 (1.1)

2 (2.2)

 Azithromycin

1,077 (72.2)

1,042 (75)

29 (31.5)

 Lopinavir/ritonavir

349 (23.4)

340 (24.5)

8 (8.7)

 Favipiravir

330 (22.1)

279 (20.1)

49 (53.3)

 Remdesivir

14 (0.9)

12 (0.9)

2 (2.2)

 Ribavirin

242 (16.2)

233 (16.8)

8 (8.7)

 IVIG

52 (3.5)

51 (3.7)

1 (1.1)

 Interferon

152 (10.2)

146 (10.5)

6 (6.5)

 Oseltamivir

321 (21.5)

308 (22.2)

10 (10.9)

 B-lactamase inhibitors (piperacillin/tazobactam, amoxicillin/clavulanate, ampicillin/sulbactam)

592 (39.7)

559 (40.2)

30 (32.6)

 Cephalosporins (ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefepime)

732 (49.1)

697 (50.2)

30 (32.6)

 Carbapenems (meropenem, imipenem, ertapenem)

600 (40.2)

525 (37.8)

72 (78.3)

 Aminoglycosides (gentamycin, amikacin, tobramycin)

45 (3)

35 (2.5)

9 (9.8)

 Colistin

232 (15.6)

178 (12.8)

53 (57.6)

 Ceftalazone/avibactam

47 (3.2)

32 (2.3)

15 (16.3)

 Ceftazidime/tazobactam

91 (6.1)

80 (5.8)

10 (10.9)

 Vancomycin

538 (36.1)

461 (33.2)

75 (81.5)

 Linezolid

208 (14)

172 (12.4)

36 (39.1)

 Antifungals

199 (13.3)

166 (12)

33 (35.9)

 Tocilizumab

438 (29.4)

396 (28.5)

40 (43.5)

 Convalescent plasma

54 (3.6)

45 (3.2)

9 (9.8)

 Plasmapheresis

26 (1.7)

23 (1.7)

3 (3.3)

 Anakinra

4 (0.3)

4 (0.3)

0

 Sildenafil

1 (0.1)

0

1 (1.1)

 Iloprost inhalation

4 (0.3)

0

4 (4.3)

Anticoagulation administration during hospitalization (from hospital admission till the end of ICU admission)

 Indication for anticoagulation

  DVT prophylaxis only

786 (52.7)

754 (54.3)

26 (82.3)

  ECMO protocol

78 (5.2)

0

78 (84.8)

  PE (history of PE prior to hospital admission)

1 (0.1)

1 (0.1)

0

  PE (diagnosed during current admission)

19 (1.3)

17 (1.2)

2 (2.2)

  DVT (history of DVT prior to current admission)

7 (0.5)

6 (0.4)

1 (1.1)

  DVT (new diagnosis during current hospital admission)

10 (0.7)

10 (0.7)

0

  Atrial fibrillation

16 (1.1)

16 (1.2)

0

  Mechanical valve

6 (0.4)

6 (0.4)

0

  Past history of thromboembolic disease

8 (0.5)

7 (0.7)

1 (1.1)

  Part of COVID-19 therapy protocol

876 (58.8)

850 (61.2)

25 (27.2)

  Current malignancy

1 (0.1)

1 (0.1)

0

  Other

47 (3.2)

46 (3.3)

1 (1.1)

Choice of anticoagulation therapy

 LMWHs (enoxaparin, tinzaparin, or dalteparin)

1050 (70.4)

1013 (72.9)

34 (37)

  Duration of use, days

10.5 ± 15.1 (1–157)

10.6 ± 15.2 (1–157)

10.1 ± 10 (1–41)

 Heparin SC

314 (21.1)

303 (21.8)

9 (9.8)

  Duration of use, days

11 ± 14.8 (1–130)

10.8 ± 14.5 (1–130)

20.4 ± 22 (1–74)

 Heparin infusion

397 (26.6)

309 (22.2)

82 (89.1)

  Duration of use, days

10.8 ± 14.2 (1–154)

9.7 ± 13 (1–122)

15.3 ± 17.7 (3–154)

 Warfarin

7 (0.5)

6 (0.4)

0

  Duration of use, days

28.2 ± 45.5 (2–109)

8 ± 6.5 (2–15)

0

 NOACs (apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or edoxaban)

6 (0.4)

6 (0.4)

0

  Duration of use, days

4.4 ± 4.1 (1–11)

4.4 ± 4.1 (1–11)

0

 Fondaparinux

13 (0.9)

12 (0.9)

0

  Duration of use, days

17.6 ± 17.2 (1–50)

18.1 ± 18.2 (1–50)

0

Use of corticosteroids during ICU stay

1069 (71.7)

986 (71)

81 (88)

 Hydrocortisone

247 (16.6)

216 (15.6)

31 (33.7)

  Duration of use, days

8.7 ± 15.6 (1–123)

8.2 ± 16.1 (1–123)

11.5 ± 11.6 (1–47)

 Methylprednisolone

390 (26.2)

344 (24.8)

46 (50)

  Duration of use, days

10.1 ± 18 (1–160)

9.7 ± 16.6 (1–160)

13.9 ± 25.6 (1–153)

 Dexamethasone

617 (41.4)

579 (41.7)

36 (39.1)

  Duration of use, days

9.9 ± 7.3 (1–74)

10 ± 7.3 (1–74)

9.4 ± 6.5 (2–33)

 Prednisone

36 (2.4)

34 (2.4)

2 (2.2)

  Duration of use, days

9.5 ± 8.3 (1–37)

8.5 ± 7.5 (1–37)

22.5 ± 10.6 (15–30)

Complications patients experienced at any time during hospitalization

 Pneumothorax

97 (6.5)

69 (5)

27 (29.3)

 Pulmonary embolism

103 (6.9)

89 (6.4)

14 (15.2)

 Gastrointestinal bleeding

54 (3.6)

46 (3.3)

8 (8.7)

 Stroke

33 (2.2)

31 (2.2)

2 (2.2)

 Cardiac ischemia or infarction

63 (4.2)

57 (4.1)

6 (6.5)

 Bowel ischemia

4 (0.3)

3 (0.2)

1 (1.1)

 Venous thrombosis (upper body, subclavian and internal jugular)

7 (0.5)

6 (0.4)

1 (1.1)

 Lower limb DVT

25 (1.7)

20 (1.4)

5 (5.4)

 Thrombosis of abdominal veins (e.g., portal veins)

4 (0.3)

3 (0.2)

1 (1.1)

 Cardiac arrest

383 (25.7)

338 (24.3)

42 (45.7)

 Self-extubation

32 (2.1)

30 (2.2)

2 (2.2)

 Bleeding requiring blood transfusion

134 (9)

99 (7.1)

35 (38)

 Rhabdomyolysis (CK > 1000)

52 (3.5)

39 (2.8)

13 (14.1)

 Seizure(s)

21 (1.4)

20 (1.4)

1 (1.1)

 Falls

4 (0.3)

4 (0.3)

0

 Accidental line or feeding tube removal

10 (0.7)

8 (0.6)

2 (2.2)

 Cardiac arrhythmias

72 (4.8)

59 (4.2)

13 (14.1)

 Type of cardiac arrhythmias

  Supra-ventricular tachycardia

17 (1.1)

10 (0.7)

7 (7.6)

  Atrial fibrillation

41 (2.7)

38 (2.7)

3 (3.3)

  Ventricular tachycardia

11 (0.7)

9 (0.6)

2 (2.2)

 Bed sores (> stage 1)

124 (8.3)

109 (7.8)

15 (16.3)

 Arterial limb ischemia

9 (0.6)

4 (0.3)

5 (5.4)

 CRRT circuit clotting

101 (6.8)

81 (5.8)

20 (21.7)

 Intracerebral bleeding

34 (2.3)

20 (1.4)

14 (15.2)