Author/Authors :
Salehi, Mohammadreza Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine - Imam Khomeini Hospital complex - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Khajavirad, Nasim Department of Internal Medicine - School of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Darazam, Ilad Alavi Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Hashemi, Jamal Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine - Loghman Hakim Hospital - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Ansari, Saham Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - School of Medicine - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Ghiasvand, Fereshteh Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine - Imam Khomeini Hospital complex - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Jamalimoghadamsiahkali, Saeidreza 7Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ziaeian Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Izadi, Alireza Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine - Loghman Hakim Hospital - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Kiyaei, Reyhaneh Sadat Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine - Loghman Hakim Hospital - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Seifi, Arash Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine - Imam Khomeini Hospital complex - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Abolghasemi, Sara Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Hatami, Firouze Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Boekhout, Teun 8Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands , Dehghan Manshadi, Ali Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine - Imam Khomeini Hospital complex - Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Khodavaisy, Sadegh Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine - Loghman Hakim Hospital - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Abstract :
Background: With the emergence and spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) globally, health care systems have faced the
biggest challenge in recent decades.
Objectives: The present study aimed to identify risk factors associated with oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in COVID-19 patients.
Methods: The total number of confirmed COVID-19 patients was 218 (105 cases with OPC and 113 controls without OPC). The questionnaire
used in this study consisted of demographic data, treatment strategy, clinical and laboratory data, and underlying diseases
collected from the onset of clinical OPC until the end of hospitalization.
Results: Pseudomembranous candidiasis (77/105, 73.3%) was the most prevalent form of OPC in case patients. The majority of the
cases (58.1%) and controls (58.4%) were males. Increasing age (P = 0.03) and hospitalization length (P = 0.016) were significantly
associated with OPC in COVID-19 patients. Diabetes (P = 0.003), solid tumor (P = 0.019), and hypertension (P = 0.000) were the most
common underlying conditions. The use of dentures (P = 0.003) and poor oral hygiene (P = 0.000) were related to OPC in the case
group. Therapy with chloroquine (P = 0.012), IVIG (P = 0.001), diuretics (P = 0.000), and corticosteroid pulse therapy (P = 0.000) were
significantly associated with developing OPC in case patients.
Conclusions: Old age, hospitalization length, poor oral hygiene, corticosteroids use, diabetes, solid tumor, and hypertension may
predispose COVID-19 patients to develop OPC.
