@article{3101932,
    title = "Epidemiological characteristics and outcomes from 187 patients with covid-19 admitted to 6 reference centers in greece: an observational study during the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic",
    author = "Tzouvelekis, A. and Akinosoglou, K. and Karampitsakos, T. and Panou, V. and Tomos, I. and Tsoukalas, G. and Stratiki, M. and Dimakou, K. and Chrysikos, S. and Papaioannou, O. and Hillas, G. and Bakakos, P. and Stratakos, G. and Anagnostopoulos, A. and Koromilias, A. and Boutou, A. and Kioumis, I. and Chloros, D. and Kontakiotis, T. and Papakosta, D. and Papiris, S. and Manali, E. and Antonogiannaki, E.-M. and Koulouris, N. and Bouros, D. and Loukides, S. and Gogos, C.",
    journal = "Advances in Respiratory Medicine",
    year = "2021",
    volume = "89",
    number = "4",
    pages = "378-385",
    publisher = "Via Medica SP Zoo",
    doi = "10.5603/ARM.a2021.0087",
    keywords = "adult;  artificial ventilation;  diagnosis;  female;  Greece;  human;  intensive care;  male;  middle aged;  procedures;  severity of illness index;  therapy, Adult;  COVID-19;  Critical Care;  Female;  Greece;  Humans;  Male;  Middle Aged;  Respiration, Artificial;  Severity of Illness Index",
    abstract = "Introduction: Epidemiological data from patients with COVID-19 has been recently published in several countries. Nationwide data of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Greece remain scarce. Material and methods: This was an observational, retrospective study from 6 reference centers between February 26 and May 15, 2020. Results: The patients were mostly males (65.7%) and never smokers (57.2%) of median age 60 (95% CI: 57.6–64) years. The majority of the subjects (98%) were treated with the standard-of-care therapeutic regimen at that time, including hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. Median time of hospitalization was 10 days (95% CI: 10–12). Twenty-five (13.3%) individuals were intubated and 8 died (4.2%). The patients with high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (> 3.58) exhibited more severe disease as indicated by significantly increased World Health Organization (WHO) R&D ordinal scale (4; 95% CI: 4–4 vs 3; 95% CI: 3–4, p = 0.0001) and MaxFiO2% (50; 95% CI: 38.2–50 vs 29.5; 95% CI: 21–31, p < 0.0001). The patients with increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (>270 IU/ml) also exhibited more advanced disease compared to the low LDH group (< 270 IU/ml) as indicated by both WHO R&D ordinal scale (4; 95% CI: 4–4 vs 4; 95% CI: 3–4, p = 0.0001) and MaxFiO2% (50; 95% CI: 35–60 vs 28; 95% CI: 21–31, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: We present the first epidemiological report from a low-incidence and mortality COVID-19 country. NLR and LDH may represent reliable disease prognosticators leading to timely treatment decisions. © 2021 PTChP."
}