Predictors of Mortality among COVID-19 Patients - A Case Control Study at Tertiary Care Center, Nanded (Maharashtra)

Indian J Community Med. 2023 Mar-Apr;48(2):230-237. doi: 10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_1495_21. Epub 2023 Apr 7.

Abstract

Background: The novel Coronavirus is belonging to the family of SARS & MERS-CoV, the impact of the earlier is more dreadful as demonstrated by the steady increase in morbid cases. The average incubation period of COVID-19 is 1-14 days with a mean of 6 days. Aim - To evaluate predictors of mortality among COVID-19 patients. Objectives - 1. To assess risk predictors associated with mortality among COVID-19 patients 2. To a suggest prediction model for preventing mortality in future outbreaks.

Materials and methods: Study design - A case-control study. Study place -Tertiary care center, Nanded, Maharashtra. The present study included 400 cases that died off due to Covid-19 and 400 controls survived COVID-19 disease in a 1:1 proportion.

Results: On admission, a significant difference was observed among cases and controls with reference to the percentage of SpO2 (p < 0.05). The proportion of associated co-morbidities among cases was very high i.e., 75.75% as compared to controls with a proportion of 29.25% co-morbidities. The median days of hospital stay were significantly lower in cases compared to controls (3 days vs 12 days, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Length of hospital stay (in days) was showing a significant difference among cases and control (3 days Vs 12 days); hospital stay was less (median 3 days) for cases, as they reported late and thus died earlier; hence concluded that early hospital admission will decrease chances of death due to COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Co-morbidities; ROC; SpO2; hospital stay; neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio.