Clinical characteristics and risk factors for 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study

Turk J Med Sci. 2021 Oct 21;51(5):2285-2295. doi: 10.3906/sag-2104-356.

Abstract

Background: To date, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused more than 2.6 million deaths all around the world. Risk factors for mortality remain unclear. The primary aim was to determine the independent risk factors for 28-day mortality.

Materials and methods: In this retrospective cohort study, critically ill patients (≥ 18 years) who were admitted to the intensive care unit due to COVID-19 were included. Patient characteristics, laboratory data, radiologic findings, treatments, and complications were analyzed in the study.

Results: A total of 249 patients (median age 71, 69.1% male) were included in the study. 28-day mortality was 67.9% (n = 169). The median age of deceased patients was 75 (66–81). Of them, 68.6% were male. Cerebrovascular disease, dementia, chronic kidney disease, and malignancy were significantly higher in the deceased group. In the multivariate analysis, sepsis/septic shock (OR, 15.16, 95% CI, 3.96–58.11, p < 0.001), acute kidney injury (OR, 4.73, 95% CI, 1.55–14.46, p = 0.006), acute cardiac injury (OR, 9.76, 95% CI, 1.84–51.83, p = 0.007), and chest CT score higher than 15 (OR, 4.49, 95% CI, 1.51-13.38, p = 0.007) were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality.

Conclusion: Early detection of the risk factors and the use of chest CT score might improve the outcomes in patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; critical care; mortality; risk factors; tomography.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis*
  • COVID-19 / mortality*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Critical Illness
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors