Prevalence and risk factors of barotrauma in Covid-19 patients admitted to an intensive care unit in Kuwait; a retrospective cohort study

•The development of barotrauma in mechanically COVID-19 patients complicates their management and hospital course.•There is a high incidence rate (15.4%) of developing barotrauma related complications in COVID-19 ICU patients.•ARDS is a major risk factor for the development of barotrauma in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients.•Various biochemical markers as well as a high COVID-GRAM score is associated with the development of barotrauma.•The development of barotrauma in COVID-19 patients is associated with a dismal clinical outcome.