Mortality by COVID-19 Before Vaccination - One Year Experience of Hospitalized Patients in Madrid

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to analyze the mortality and characteristics of deceased patients with COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic.MethodsAll admissions owing to COVID-19 at a tertiary hospital in Madrid were analyzed. Three waves were considered: March 2020 to June 2020, July 2020 to November 2020, and December 2020 to April 2021.ResultsA total of 3,676 patients were identified. Among inpatients, no differences regarding age, sex, length of admission, or mortality were found between the 3 waves (p >0.05). The overall mortality rate was 12.9%. Among deceased patients, the median age was 82 years and the median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 6. Considering the main predictors for mortality by COVID-19 (age, sex, and concomitant comorbidities), only patients with previous lung disease were more prevalent in the third period (p <0.01). Finally, higher intensive care unit admission rates, a lower rate of patients coming from nursing homes, and a lower rate of patients with dementia were noted in the third period (p <0.05) among deceased patients.ConclusionOne year after the onset of the pandemic, the mortality rate of hospitalized patients and the profile of non-survivors have not changed significantly. In the absence of vaccine benefits, advanced age and multiple pathologies are uniform characteristics of non-survivors.