A RETROSPECTIVE INVESTIGATION ON THE INCIDENCE, CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND OUTCOMES OF PNEUMOTHORAX IN HOSPITALIZED COVID-19 PATIENTS IN NORTH-EAST OF ROMANIA

The COVID-19 clinic ranges from asymptomatic to critical and fatal disease.Pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are rare complications of COVID-19 infection but can occur at any time during the disease.The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the impact of acute respiratory complications on patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Materials and methods: 177 patients with COVID-19 were recruited to analyze the correlation between pneumothorax and d emographics and general data of the patients.Results: In our study, pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum was much more frequent among younger, smoking individuals from urban environments.Moreover, the pneumothorax group had statistically significantly higher white blood cells and erythrocyte sedimentation rate values than the control group.Th e duration of hospitalization in patients who developed pneumothorax was similar to those who did not develop this complication.Conclusions: Patients experiencing this consequence had a significantly higher mortality rate compared to those in control grou ps.Although the precise origins of this complication remain unclear, individuals with preexisting pulmonary dysfun ction appear to experience it more frequently.