The mortality predictors in non-vaccinated COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Aim: The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19 disease. From December 31, 2019, to the present (July 2022), 545 million new cases have been detected, while the number of deaths due to the disease has reached 6.3 million. This study aims to reveal mortality-related risk factors, including comorbid conditions, clinical course, imaging, and laboratory parameters in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital. 
 Material and Method: An observational, retrospective study was conducted among hospitalized COVID-19 patients at the tertiary health center in Turkey between November 2020 and April 2021. A total of 601 patients were treated in this period and vaccinated 85 patients were excluded. The remaining 516 patients’ demographical data, clinical severity, laboratory parameters, thorax computed tomography (CT) involvement, and mortalities were recorded. 
 Results: In evaluating the factors affecting COVID-19 mortality, it was observed that male gender and advanced age were significantly associated with mortality, and the mortality rate was higher in patients with involvement in thorax CT and patients with a clinically severe course. In the evaluation of the patients in terms of comorbidities, DM, HT, and CAD were significantly higher in the patients who died. It was determined that patients who died during hospitalization needed respiratory support at a higher rate. 
 Conclusion: Identifying predicting factors is essential for the early recognition the vulnerable patients for hospitalization decisions and early aggressive treatment. In this study, male gender, advanced age, comorbidities (DM, HT, CAD), pulmonary involvement, and severe clinical presentation were identified as significantly related factors associated with mortality.