Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a Community Hospital in Flint, Michigan, in Early 2020: Characteristics and Mortality.

Introduction: Despite the many studies conducted on the factors affecting mortality in patients with COVID-19, there is ongoing debate about the role of race as a risk factor. Several studies have reported a geographic and racial disparity in COVID-19 cases in Michigan. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of the 2020 first cohort of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) COVID-19 patients admitted to a community teaching hospital in Flint, Michigan, and to determine the factors associated with ICU mortality, including race.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included adult patients (≥ 18 years) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the ICU between March and May 2020. Potential risk factors associated with ICU mortality included demographic characteristics, comorbidities, treatments, and complications.

Results: The study sample consisted of N = 48 patients, aged 24-85 years, (mean 59.7; SD = 12.8); 56.2% (n=27) were male and 51.1% (n=24) were Black adults. The mortality rate was 51.1%. Age (aOR 1.1, 95% CI [1.01, 1.20]; p =0.03), type 2 diabetes (aOR 5.7, 95% CI [1.2, 29.1]; p =0.03), and essential hypertension (aOR 6.2, 95% CI [1.1, 34.5]; p =0.04) were all found to have statistically significant independent associations with increased risk of ICU mortality in this study sample. On the other hand, race was not found to be associated with ICU mortality.

Conclusions: These findings support the literature regarding the association of comorbid conditions, including type 2 diabetes and hypertension, with poorer outcomes in ICU hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. This study provides insight into mortality of an ICU patient cohort earlier on during the COVID-19 pandemic in Flint, Michigan.