Investigators observed a mortality rate of 26%In Lombardy the-cpicenter of Italy's COVID-19 pandemic, health authorities created a network of intensive care units (ICUs) to coordinate management of the overwhelming number of patients. This report is an analysis of data on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of all critically ill patients admitted with COVID-19 to the ICUs, starting on February 20,2020. The analysis includes 1591 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. The median patient age was 63 years (median age was used to define younger versus older patients); 82% were male. Common comor-bidities included hypertension (49% of patients), cardiovascular disease (21%), and hypercholesterolemia (18%). Data on respiratory support were available on 1300 patients, and of those, 1150 required intubation with mechanical ventilation; the frequency of need was comparable between younger and older patients. The median positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) used was 14, and a fraction of inspired oxygen of at least 50% was needed in 89% of patients. Prone ventilation was performed in 27%. As of March 25,58% of the patients remained in the ICU, 16% had been discharged, and 26% died. The mortality was lower in younger versus older patients (15% vs. 36%).
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