Complications and mortality among patients hospitalised with COVID-19.

Abstract

The course of disease, complications and hospital mortality among patients with COVID-19 admitted to Norwegian hospitals has not been widely described. The purpose of this study was to survey patients with COVID-19 admitted to a local hospital. The data were retrieved from a prospective observational study of all patients admitted with COVID-19 to Bærum Hospital since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. A total of 73patients with COVID-19 admitted in the period 9 March 2020-7 May 2020 were included. The mean age was 67.9 years, and 43patients (59%) were men. The average number of days hospitalised was 10.1. Altogether 19patients (26%) had a very severe course of disease, and 14 (19%) died during their stay in hospital. The mean age among the patients who died was 79.5 years. A total of 49patients (67%) had hypoxaemia and required oxygen therapy for an average of 10.1 days. Of these, 9patients were given invasive respiratory support for a median 18 days. Symptoms of delirium occurred in 26patients (36%) and was the most frequent non-respiratory complication. The majority of the patients hospitalised with COVID-19 needed prolonged oxygen therapy, and there was a high incidence of severe complications.