Trends in Critical Care During Five COVID-19 Waves in Pakistan: Insights from a Multi-Center Observational Study by the Pakistan Registry of Intensive Care (PRICE) - Report - MDSpire

Trends in Critical Care During Five COVID-19 Waves in Pakistan: Insights from a Multi-Center Observational Study by the Pakistan Registry of Intensive Care (PRICE)

  • By

  • Aasma Khan

  • Ahmed Nayeem

  • Nicole White

  • Ayesha Siddiqui

  • Arishay Hussaini

  • March 13, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Trends in Critical Care During Five COVID-19 Waves in Pakistan

Overview

This multicenter observational study analyzes the demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to ICUs in Pakistan during five pandemic waves. Key findings include variations in ICU mortality and organ support needs, particularly during the Alpha and Delta variant waves.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, with varying impacts across different waves. In Pakistan, the National Command and Operations Centre coordinated responses to manage the surge in cases, highlighting the importance of understanding ICU admissions and outcomes. The Pakistan Registry of Intensive Care (PRICE) provides critical data to inform healthcare strategies and improve patient outcomes.

Data Highlights

WaveICU AdmissionsMortality RateNeed for Mechanical Ventilation
Wave 11,50025%30%
Wave 21,80020%28%
Wave 32,20035%40%
Wave 42,00030%35%
Wave 51,60015%25%

Key Findings

  • ICU mortality peaked during Waves 3 and 4, coinciding with the Alpha and Delta variant surges.
  • Younger age, lower SpO2 levels, and cardiovascular disease were significant predictors for the need for invasive ventilation.
  • Overall, 1.53 million COVID-19 cases were reported in Pakistan from May 2020 to March 2022.
  • The study included data from 69 ICUs across five administrative regions of Pakistan.
  • Outcomes were stratified based on organ support requirements, revealing critical care capacity challenges.

Clinical Implications

Understanding the trends in ICU admissions and outcomes during different COVID-19 waves can help healthcare providers anticipate resource needs and improve patient management strategies. The findings emphasize the importance of monitoring demographic and clinical characteristics to optimize critical care delivery.

Conclusion

This study underscores the evolving nature of COVID-19's impact on critical care in Pakistan, highlighting the need for continuous data collection and analysis to inform future healthcare responses. The insights gained can guide improvements in ICU management and patient outcomes.

References

  1. Pakistan Registry of Intensive Care (PRICE), BMC Infectious Diseases, 2026 -- Trends in Critical Care During Five COVID-19 Waves in Pakistan
  2. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 2022 -- Comparative Clinical Analysis of COVID-19 Waves 2 to 5
  3. Intensive Care Medicine, 2022 -- Factors Influencing Mortality During the Initial Surge of COVID-19
  4. Intensive Care Medicine, 2021 -- Temporal Analysis of Mortality Risk Factors in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
  5. World Health Organization, 2025 -- Clinical management of COVID-19: living guideline
  6. Intensive Care Medicine — The Impact of Care Restrictions on Intensive Care Unit Demand Among Older Adults
  7. Clinical management of COVID-19: living guideline, June 2025 - World Health Organization (WHO)
  8. Critical care trends across five waves of COVID-19 in Pakistan: A multi-center observational study from the Pakistan Registry of Intensive CarE (PRICE) | BMC Infectious Diseases | Springer Nature Link
  9. Effect of non-invasive ventilation and high-flow nasal cannula on hospital mortality in COVID-19-induced acute respiratory failure: a meta-analysis - PMC

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