Relationship Between Intubation and Mortality in COVID-19 Patients with Moderate ARDS, Secondary Bacterial Infection Status

Objective: In many studies on patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, the mortality rate was found to be high in intubated patients. The aim of this study was to try to understand how intubation affects mortality in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID) polymerase chain reaction-positive ARDS and to understand the relationship between intubation and mortality in the patient group whose PaO2/FiO2 is 100-150 mmHg (moderate) and who have difficulty in intubation decision. Materials and Methods: Patient information was obtained by retrospectively examining the hospital computer database and patient files. Three hundred thirteen patients were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as intubated and non-intubated according to their intubation status after the first 24 h of their admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and their intubation status when PaO2/FiO2 was 100-150 mmHg (moderate ARDS). Results: In the group of patients who were intubated after the first 24 h, the number of mechanical ventilator days was 9.15±8.58 (p