Identifying the Effective Factors in the Death of Patients Receiving Convalescent Plasma

Abstract

Background: Despite the fast spread of COVID-19 around the world, no definitive treatment has been found for the disease yet. Various drugs have been tried to reduce the mortality rate of the disease. In this regard, convalescent plasma therapy is a beneficial method to control the illness. Objective: This study aims to determine the outcomes of patients receiving this therapy in Bu-Ali Hospital, Qazvin, Iran. Methods: The present study is a case series of 60 samples. The samples were selected by purposive sampling method. The study was conducted after ethical approval and patients’ consent in 2020. The inclusion criteria were having a lung scan confirming the disease by an internist or infectious disease specialist, a positive PCR test, and a history of receiving plasma during treatment. Results: Out of 60 patients with COVID-19 who received convalescent plasma, 33 (55%) survived. The findings indicate that patients who received plasma and died were not significantly different from surviving patients regarding age, sex, underlying disease, and length of hospital stay (P>0.05). However, there was a significant difference between the deceased and surviving patients regarding plasma receiving time (P=0.005). Conclusion: If the convalescent plasma therapy of patients starts closer to the time of admission, the effect of therapy on reducing patient mortality will be greater.