COVID-19 pneumonia and COVID-19 associated acuterespiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis andmanagement
COVID-19 pneumonia and COVID-19 associated acuterespiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis andmanagement
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact. At the date of publication, around 203 million people across the world have tested positive for the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) since it was first identified in December 2019[1].
The most critically unwell patients require urgent admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), often because of severe type 1 respiratory failure with gross hypoxia, meaning that they require mechanical ventilation[2]. Severe respiratory complications, such as COVID-19 pneumonia and/or COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS), contribute to high ICU mortality rates and affect 15–30% of hospitalised COVID-19 patients[2]. At the peak of the pandemic, the ICU mortality rate for COVID-19 patients reached 58%[2].
Fortunately, as knowledge has expanded and new evidence-based therapies have emerged, associated ICU mortality rates in the UK have fallen to around 37% at 28 days[3]. The number of COVID-19 ICU admissions has also decreased — mostly owing to the successful rollout of the UK COVID-19 vaccination programme[4]. However, the emergence of the more transmissible Delta variant, coupled with the recent easing of lockdown restrictions, has contributed to a third wave of COVID-19 infections in the UK[4,5]. This could potentially lead to an increase in the number of serious complications, such as severe COVID-19 pneumonia and CARDS.
It is therefore important that pharmacists can recognise the signs and symptoms of these diseases, and know how to appropriately manage patients presenting to community pharmacy and primary care.
This article provides an overview of COVID-19 pneumonia and CARDS, summarising the pathophysiology, diagnosis and evidenced-based management strategies.
McKenzie, C.
ec344dee-5777-49c5-970e-6326e82c9f8c
Sloss, R.
e16f612a-b371-49cb-a8d8-5857268fc272
10 August 2021
McKenzie, C.
ec344dee-5777-49c5-970e-6326e82c9f8c
Sloss, R.
e16f612a-b371-49cb-a8d8-5857268fc272
McKenzie, C. and Sloss, R.
(2021)
COVID-19 pneumonia and COVID-19 associated acuterespiratory distress syndrome: diagnosis andmanagement.
Pharmaceutical Journal, 307, [7952].
(doi:10.1211/PJ.2021.1.99739).
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact. At the date of publication, around 203 million people across the world have tested positive for the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) since it was first identified in December 2019[1].
The most critically unwell patients require urgent admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), often because of severe type 1 respiratory failure with gross hypoxia, meaning that they require mechanical ventilation[2]. Severe respiratory complications, such as COVID-19 pneumonia and/or COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS), contribute to high ICU mortality rates and affect 15–30% of hospitalised COVID-19 patients[2]. At the peak of the pandemic, the ICU mortality rate for COVID-19 patients reached 58%[2].
Fortunately, as knowledge has expanded and new evidence-based therapies have emerged, associated ICU mortality rates in the UK have fallen to around 37% at 28 days[3]. The number of COVID-19 ICU admissions has also decreased — mostly owing to the successful rollout of the UK COVID-19 vaccination programme[4]. However, the emergence of the more transmissible Delta variant, coupled with the recent easing of lockdown restrictions, has contributed to a third wave of COVID-19 infections in the UK[4,5]. This could potentially lead to an increase in the number of serious complications, such as severe COVID-19 pneumonia and CARDS.
It is therefore important that pharmacists can recognise the signs and symptoms of these diseases, and know how to appropriately manage patients presenting to community pharmacy and primary care.
This article provides an overview of COVID-19 pneumonia and CARDS, summarising the pathophysiology, diagnosis and evidenced-based management strategies.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
Published date: 10 August 2021
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 476952
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/476952
ISSN: 0031-6873
PURE UUID: e2b8e5c4-2589-4e77-8208-944b1fc08583
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 22 May 2023 16:34
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:23
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
C. McKenzie
Author:
R. Sloss
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics