Q: Role of Kaletra in severe patients? What is the unit of CRP? Mg/I?

Answer:

Unfortunately, the most recent trial showed a negative result in adult patients with severe COVID-19 treated with lopinavir–ritonavir. Though there were several limitations in the study, there are still some important findings 

(https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2001282).


The unit of CRP is mg/L or ug/ml in most hospital. It is also depend on the model and manufacturer of machines and reagents.


Q: Is that just elder people go to hospital? Any strong relationship bwtween age and outcome?

Answer:

The age of inpatient ranged from 20s to 90s in our hospital. In our department, we have received 80 patients, 26 cases for≥65 years old (32.5%) and 17 for ≥70 (21.25%). The age of all fatality patients were ≥65 years old in our hospital, the duration for the COVID-19 RNA negative and pulmonary inflammation absorption was much longer for old patients then young patients. Recent online report also showed similar result (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6912e2.htm). Therefore, we agree that there is strong relationship between age and outcome.

Q: Which biomarker is the most predictive of patient’s prognosis?

Answer:

Most severe patients with pneumonia had increased D-dimer, IL-6 level and decreased lymphocyte count level which is associated with fatal outcome of COVID-19. 

Reference: Henry Brandon Michael. (2020). COVID-19, ECMO, and lymphopenia: a word of caution. Lancet Respir Med, undefined(undefined), undefined. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30119-3

Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet, undefined(undefined), undefined. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3