Prevalence of systemic complications of COVID-19 in critically ill patients: systematic review with meta-analysis.
Namie Okino Sawada, Tiago Marques Dos Reis, Patrícia Scotini Freitas and 6 others
PMID 40667951WHAT IT FOUND
In ICU adults with COVID-19, respiratory complications were present in 42%, neurological complications in 62% and death in 33%; delirium was the most common neurological complication.
Key findings
01Respiratory complications had a pooled prevalence of 42% (95%CI 0.2-0.66; I²=97.4).
02Neurological complications had a pooled prevalence of 62% (95%CI 0.49-0.74; I²=87.4).
03Mortality had a pooled prevalence of 33% (95%CI 0.23-0.44; I²=93.6).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The meta-analyses had high heterogeneity, with I² values of 97.4, 87.4 and 93.6. Most included studies had moderate risk of bias, and only one had low risk of bias. The review did not grade the certainty of evidence because no formal GRADE guidance exists for prevalence reviews. The search excluded Mandarin-language texts. It included only adults in critical condition, so it may not apply to patients on ordinary wards.
Declared interests
The study was financed in part by CAPES, Brazil, Finance Code 001. The article does not report commercial funding or author conflicts.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the pooled percentages as a patient's personal risk or as proof that ventilation causes delirium. The studies were observational and highly heterogeneous, and the review did not test treatment effects.