Role of arterial blood gas analysis at admission in predicting mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring non-invasive ventilation

SARS CoV-2 is the novel corona virus that caused Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of the study was to determine the use of arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis at admission to predict the mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring non-invasive ventilation (NIV). This study was conducted on 300 patients requiring NIV. Demographic and laboratory data including ABG were collected at admission. The subjects were divided into two groups: Success and Failure based on treatment outcome. PaO2 (partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood) at presentation showed statistically significant association between the two treatment outcome groups. Patients in success group had higher PaO2 at presentation when compared to the failure group. This association was statistically significant with t value of 7.433 and p value of <0.001. The SaO2 (calculated arterial oxygen saturation) levels at presentation were obtained. Our study showed that the mean SaO2 at presentation was much lower among failure group when compared with success group. This association was statistically significant with t value of 7.69 and p value of <0.001. However, pH, PaCO2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood) and HCO3 (Bicarbonate level) at presentation had no statistically significant association with treatment outcome of COVID-19 patients requiring NIV. ABG analysis at admission can help in early identification of high-risk patients and can serve as a predictor of mortality among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring NIV.