Investigation of the clinical course and severity of COVID-19 infection in immunocompromised patients

Introduction: Immunocompromised patients, SARS-CoV-2 infection might have a more severe course and may cause pneumonia quicker, compared to normal hosts. The presence of comorbid diseases increases this risk even further. In our study, we aimed to determine the clinical course and severity of COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients. Materials and method: Our study was carried out between 01 April 2020 and 01 October 2020 in 4 centers as a retrospective case-control study. Firstly, COVID-19 positive patients with previous immunosuppressive disorder diagnosis or patients who use immunosuppressive medicines for any reason were enrolled in the case group. COVID-19 rtRT-PCR positive patients who have no previous immunosuppressive disorder diagnosis and who are not on any immunosuppressive medicines were enrolled in the control group. Definitive statistical analysis was conducted for all of the researched variables. Results: 156 immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 diagnosis were enrolled in the case group of patients and 312 non-immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 diagnosis were enrolled in the control groups. In immunocompromised patients, CMI scores, the prevalence of hypertension, respiratory rate/minute, shortness of breath, and weakness were high and complaints about fever were low. In these patients, CRP, D-dimer, ferritin, and troponin values were high at statistically significant levels and lymphocyte values were low. The need for intensive care for immunocompromised patients was 2.93 times more and nosocomial infections and thrombotic complications occurred more frequently. Mortality was 3.57 times higher in immunocompromised patients. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 has a more severe course in immunocompromised patients. However, when evaluating these patients, whether or not the underlying diseases are under control should be evaluated and thrombotic complications and nosocomial infections should be taken into account. © 2021 A. CARBONE Editore. All rights reserved.