Cumulative Mortality and Factors Associated With Outcomes of Mucormycosis After COVID-19 at a Multispecialty Tertiary Care Center in India

Question  What is the mortality rate among patients with COVID-19–associated rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis at 1 month?

Findings  In this case-control study of 73 patients, 26 (36%) died within 10 days after admission. The cumulative probability of death was 53% at day 21, and assisted ventilation during prior COVID-19 treatment or visual acuity of no light perception were associated with a higher risk of death.

Meaning  These findings suggest that the mortality rate after rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis is high and that a subgroup of patients who have severe COVID-19 or present with severe orbital disease are more likely to die within 10 days of admission.

Importance  An outbreak of COVID-19–associated rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis (CAM) has occurred in many parts of the world. Although the clinical profile and risk factors for CAM have been studied, cumulative mortality and its risk factors have not.

Objective  To report the cumulative mortality rates at different times in cases with CAM and identify risk factors for CAM-associated mortality.

Design, Setting, and Participants  This retrospective case-control study was conducted from March 1 to May 30, 2021, in a tertiary care multispecialty hospital in western India. All patients diagnosed with CAM and with a minimum follow-up of 30 days or those who died before 30 days due to CAM were included.

Main Outcomes and Measure  Cumulative mortality in CAM using survival analysis.

Results  A total of 73 consecutive patients with CAM with a mean (SD) age of 53.5 (12.5) years were included in the analysis, of whom 48 (66%) were men. CAM developed at a median of 28 (IQR, 15-45; range, 4-90) days after recovery from COVID-19. Of the 73 patients with CAM, 26 (36%) died; the cumulative probability of death was 26% (95% CI, 16%-41%) at day 7 and doubled to 53% (95% CI, 39%-69%) at day 21. Sinus debridement was performed in 18 of 51 patients (35%), and 5 of 52 (10%) underwent exenteration, whereas intravenous lyophilized amphotericin B was administered to 48 patients (66%). A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that receiving mechanical ventilation in the past was associated with a nearly 9-fold increased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR], 8.98; 95% CI, 2.13-38.65; P = .003), and patients who had visual acuity of light perception or better had a 46% lower risk of death (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.32-0.98; P = .04). Intravenous amphotericin B administration was associated with a reduced rate of exenteration (0 vs 5 of 25 [20%]; P < .001). On multivariate analysis, those who received intravenous amphotericin B had a 69% reduced risk of death (HR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.06-1.43; P = .13).

Conclusions and Relevance  These findings suggest that the mortality rate after rhino-orbitocerebral mucormycosis is high and that a subgroup of patients with severe COVID-19 or presenting with severe orbital disease are more likely to die within 10 days of admission.