ABSTRACT In Brazil, the COVID-19 burden was substantial, and risk factors associated with higher in-hospital mortality rates have been extensively studied. However, information on short-term all-cause mortality and the factors associated with death in patients who survived the hospitalization period of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited. We analyzed the six-month post-hospitalization mortality rate and possible risk factors of COVID-19 patients in a single center in Brazil. This is a retrospective cohort study focused on a six-month follow-up. The exclusion criteria were death during hospitalization, transference to another hospital, and age under 18. We collected data from the charts of all hospitalized patients from March 2020 to December 2020 with a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, resulting in a sample size of 106 patients. The main outcome was death after hospitalization, whereas comorbidities and demographics were evaluated as risk factors. The crude post-hospitalization death rate was 16%. The first 30 days of follow-up had the highest mortality rate. In a Cox regression model for post-hospitalization mortality, previous chronic kidney disease (HR, 4.06, 95%CI 1.46 – 11.30) and longer hospital stay (HR 1.01, 95%CI 1.00 – 1.02) were the only factors statistically associated with death. In conclusion, a high six-month all-cause mortality was observed. Within the six-month follow-up, a higher risk of death was observed for patients who had prior CKD and longer hospital stay. These findings highlight the importance of more intensive medical surveillance during this period.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the hematological and coagulation parameters according to the clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). We analyzed the hematological and coagulation parameters of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 at admission, and two and three weeks during hospitalization. To assess the performance of these parameters in predicting poor outcomes, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were created. We studied 128 patients with COVID-19 (59.2±17.7 years, 56% male). Non-survivors (n=54, 42%) presented significant alterations in hematological and coagulation parameters at admission, such as increased in white blood cells (WBC), neutrophil, and band cell counts, as well as elevated prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time, and D-dimer levels. During follow-up, the same group presented a gradual increase in D-dimer and PT levels, accompanied by a reduction in PT activity, hemoglobin, and red blood cell count (RBC). ROC curves showed that WBC, neutrophil, and band cell counts presented the best area under the curve (AUC) values with sensitivity and specificity of >70%; however, a logistic regression model combining all the parameters, except for RBC, presented an AUC of 0.89, sensitivity of 84.84%, and specificity of 77.41%. Our study shows that significant alterations in hematological and coagulation tests at admission could be useful predictors of disease severity and mortality in COVID-19.

Abstract Introduction: Members of the Herpesviridae family have been described in patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), but the clinical impact on renal function is not well known. Methods: HSV1, HSV2, VZV, EBV, CMV, HHV-6, HHV-7, and HHV-8 were evaluated by molecular biology on admission in blood samples from 40 consecutive SLE patients hospitalized for lupus activity. Results: Patients were 90.0% female, 77.5% non-white, with average age of 32.7 ± 13.6 years. We found positivity for EBV (65.0%), CMV (30.0%), HSV-1 (30.0%), HHV-6 (12.5%), and HHV-7 (7.5%). For all viruses, age, SLEDAI, hematological tests, ferritin, LDH, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were not significant. However, EBV positivity was a significant factor for higher serum creatinine (3.0 ± 2.8 vs. 0.9 ± 0.8; P = 0.001) and urea (86 ± 51 vs. 50 ± 46; P = 0.03). Moreover, positive cases for EBV only or with combined co-infections (66.7%-CMV; 58.3%-HSV-1) or negative for EBV only were evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis test again showed statistical significance for serum creatinine and urea (both P ≤ 0.01), with posttest also showing statistical differences for renal dysfunction and EBV presence (alone or in combined co-infections). The presence of EBV viral load was also significant for nephrotic-range proteinuria, renal flare, and the need for hemodialysis. Conclusion: Members of the Herpeviridae family (mainly EBV, HSV-1 and CMV) are common on hospital admission of SLE patients, reaching 65% for EBV, which seems to be associated with renal dysfunction and could reflect a previous association or overlapping disease, which is not well understood.

Resumo Introdução: Membros da família Herpesviridae tem sido descritos em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES), mas o impacto clínico na função renal não é bem conhecido. Métodos: Avaliou-se HSV1, HSV2, VZV, EBV, CMV, HHV-6, HHV-7, HHV-8 por biologia molecular na admissão em amostras sanguíneas de 40 pacientes com LES consecutivos hospitalizados por atividade lúpica. Resultados: Pacientes 90,0% mulheres, 77,5% não brancos, idade média 32,7 ± 13,6 anos. Encontramos positividade para EBV (65,0%), CMV (30,0%), HSV-1 (30,0%), HHV-6 (12,5%), HHV-7 (7,5%). Para todos os vírus, idade, SLEDAI, exames hematológicos, ferritina, LDH, proteína C reativa, velocidade de hemossedimentação não foram significativos. Entretanto, positividade para EBV foi estatisticamente significativo para creatinina (3,0 ± 2,8 vs. 0,9 ± 0,8; P = 0,001) e ureia (86 ± 51 vs. 50 ± 46; P = 0,03) séricas mais elevadas. Ademais, casos positivos para EBV isolado ou com coinfecções combinadas (66,7%-CMV; 58,3%-HSV-1) ou negativos apenas para EBV foram avaliados pelo teste Kruskal-Wallis e novamente mostraram significância estatística para creatinina e ureia séricas (ambas P ≤ 0,01), com pós-teste mostrando também diferenças estatísticas para disfunção renal e presença de EBV (sozinho ou em coinfecções combinadas). A presença de carga viral do EBV também foi significativa para proteinúria de faixa nefrótica, inflamação aguda, necessidade de hemodiálise. Conclusão: Membros da família Herpeviridae (principalmente EBV, HSV-1, CMV) são comuns na admissão de pacientes com LES, chegando a 65% para EBV, que parece associar-se à disfunção renal podendo refletir associação prévia ou doença sobreposta, o que não é bem compreendido.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Some COVID-19 patients have higher mortality and the responsible factors for this unfavorable outcome is still not well understood. Objective: To study the association between ferritin levels at admission, representing an inflammatory state, and hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: From May through July 2020, SARS-CoV-2 positive patients with moderate to severe clinical symptoms were evaluated at admission, regarding clinical and laboratory data on renal and hepatic function, hematologic parameters, cytomegalovirus co-infection, and acute phase proteins. Results: A total of 97 patients were included; mean age = 59.9 ± 16.3 years, 58.8% male, 57.7% non-white, in-hospital mortality = 45.4%. Age, ferritin, C-reactive protein, serum albumin and creatinine were significantly associated with mortality. Ferritin showed area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 (p < 0.001) for the cut-off of 1873.0 ng/mL, sensitivity of 68.4% and specificity of 79.3% in predicting in-hospital mortality. Age ≥60 years had an odds ratio (OR) of 10.5 (95% CI = 1.8–59.5; p = 0.008) and ferritin ≥1873.0 ng/mL had an OR of 6.0 (95% CI = 1.4–26.2; p = 0.016), both independently associated with mortality based on logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: The magnitude of inflammation present at admission of COVID-19 patients, represented by high ferritin levels, is independently predictive of in-hospital mortality.