Predictors of Duration and Demand of Oxygen Therapy in Hospitalized RT-PCR Positive COVID-19 Patients

Background: Among many unexplored and challenging areas of COVID-19, pathophysiology of hypoxia and its management requires special attention for the physicians. The current study aimed to find the predictors of duration and demand of oxygen therapy in RT-PCR positive, hospitalized, COVID-19 patients. Methods: It was a prospective, multicentered, observational study conducted at Chattagram International Medical College (Isolation Ward, CIMC), Chattogram Medical College (COVID Red Zone) and Parkview Hospital Limited (COVID-19 Ward) from January to June 2021 on hospitalised, RT-PCR positive cases of COVID-19 patients of 18 yrs or above who required supplemental oxygen therapy and gave informed consent to be included in the study. All the participants underwent chest HRCT on initial presentation. Results: In this study, 85 consecutive patients of confirmed COVID-19 were recruited under the study. Patients required oxygen for a median duration of 6 days and median value of the maximum oxygen requirement was 7 L/min with a range between 1-100 l/min. In patients with no co-morbidity, one co-morbidity and more than one comorbidity, the median duration of oxygen therapy were 4.5 (3.0-7.8) hours and 7.0 (5.0-14.3) hours respectively. Multiple regression was run to predict maximum oxygen duration and maximum oxygen required for the patients from gender, age, smoking pattern, number of comorbidity and HRCT score; only total number of comorbidity and HRCT severity score added statistically significantly to the prediction, p < 0.05. Conclusion: The results of the study might be helpful in triage of COVID-19 patients, planning as well as clinical decision making. Bangladesh Medical Res Counc Bull 2023; 49(1): 75-80