A report from the largest cohort of ICU COVID-19 patients

Findings from UNITE-COVID -19 study are now published!

The UNITE–COVID-19 is a one-day multicentre, international point prevalence study designed to discover more about the burden of COVID-19 in ICUs around the world. Regional differences, the current management of critically ill patients with COVID-19, and variability in treatment, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were among the variables evaluated.

The study analysed almost 5000 adult patients admitted to 280 ICUs in 46 countries between February 15th and May 15th, 2020. All patients were confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and diagnosed with COVID-19.

The study showed that:

•  ICUs responded to the increase in COVID-19 patients by increasing bed availability and staff, admitting up to 40% of patients in surge capacity beds.
• Although mortality in this population was high, admission to a surge capacity bed was not associated with increased mortality.
• Older age, invasive mechanical ventilation, and AKI were identified as the strongest predictors of mortality