Data collection
Demographics, laboratory values, treatment strategies, complications,
and clinical outcomes of patients were abstracted from the medical
records using a standardized report form designed for this study. The
clinical symptoms and laboratory findings at hospital admission and
complications and clinical outcomes throughout the hospitalization were
collected. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was defined
according to the Berlin definition9. The severe
condition of COVID-19 was determined using the guideline for the
diagnosis and treatment of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infected
pneumonia (standard version)10. Acute kidney injury
was defined based on the KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global
Outcomes) criteria11. Acute liver injury was defined
according to the EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines12.
The primary outcome of this study was survival. The secondary outcomes
included the severity of illness, ARDS, acute liver injury, and acute
kidney injury. Patients’ follow-up times were defined as the time
interval from hospitalization to the most recent contact or the time of
patient death, whichever came earlier. The latest follow-up date was
March 15, 2020.