AUTHOR=Herrmann Johannes , Adam Elisabeth Hannah , Notz Quirin , Helmer Philipp , Sonntagbauer Michael , Ungemach-Papenberg Peter , Sanns Andreas , Zausig York , Steinfeldt Thorsten , Torje Iuliu , Schmid Benedikt , Schlesinger Tobias , Rolfes Caroline , Reyher Christian , Kredel Markus , Stumpner Jan , Brack Alexander , Wurmb Thomas , Gill-Schuster Daniel , Kranke Peter , Weismann Dirk , Klinker Hartwig , Heuschmann Peter , Rücker Viktoria , Frantz Stefan , Ertl Georg , Muellenbach Ralf Michael , Mutlak Haitham , Meybohm Patrick , Zacharowski Kai , Lotz Christopher 

TITLE=COVID-19 Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome—A Multicenter Observational Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2020.599533

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2020.599533

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Proportions of patients dying from the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vary between different countries. We report the characteristics; clinical course and outcome of patients requiring intensive care due to COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> This is a retrospective, observational multicentre study in five German secondary or tertiary care hospitals. All patients consecutively admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in any of the participating hospitals between March 12 and May 4, 2020 with a COVID-19 induced ARDS were included.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> A total of 106 ICU patients were treated for COVID-19 induced ARDS, whereas severe ARDS was present in the majority of cases. Survival of ICU treatment was 65.0%. Median duration of ICU treatment was 11 days; median duration of mechanical ventilation was 9 days. The majority of ICU treated patients (75.5%) did not receive any antiviral or anti-inflammatory therapies. Venovenous (vv) ECMO was utilized in 16.3%. ICU triage with population-level decision making was not necessary at any time. Univariate analysis associated older age, diabetes mellitus or a higher SOFA score on admission with non-survival during ICU stay.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> A high level of care adhering to standard ARDS treatments lead to a good outcome in critically ill COVID-19 patients.</p>