Risk Factors for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID -19) -Related Mortality among Hospitalized Patients in Southeastern Iran: A Case -Control Study

Hekmatollah khoubfekr; Motahareh Abdollahi; Hamed Amiri; Sadegh Amiri; Saleh Babazadeh; Vahid Rahmanian; Mohammad Jokar

doi:10.18502/jabs.v14i2.15752

Hekmatollah khoubfekr Center of Health Vice -Chancellor of Iranshahr , University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Iranshahr, Iran
Motahareh Abdollahi Iranshahr Health Services, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran
Hamed Amiri Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Iranshahr, Iran
Sadegh Amiri Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Iranshahr, Iran
Saleh Babazadeh Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine , Stamford, New Orleans, LA, USA
Vahid Rahmanian Department of Public Health, Torbat Jam Faculty of Medical Sciences, Torbat Jam, Iran
Mohammad Jokar Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jabs.v14i2.15752

Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019, Mortality, Hospitalized patients, Risk factors, Iran

Abstract

Background & Objectives: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID -19 ) pandemic has posed a devastating global impact, with millions of cases which vary widely in the disease severity. Southeastern Iran has been particularly hard hit, with a high number of patients requiring hospitalization. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with mortality from COVID -19 among hospitalized patients in this region.

Materials & Methods: A case -control study compared hospitalized COVID -19 patients who succumbed to the disease (confirmed by death certificates and positive polymerase chain reaction or PCR tests) with those who recovered, from February 27, 2020, to June 30, 2021. Researchers analyzed data using t -tests and chi - square tests to identify significant factors associated with mortality (p < 0.05). Variables significant at a less stringent level (p < 0.2) were then included in a backward logistic regression model to explore independent predictors of mortality.

Results: This retrospective study examined data from 473 patients, of whom 158 were in the case group and 315 were in the control group. Among the case group, 80.4% were elderly, compared to 41% in the control group. A significantly higher proportion of patients in the case group (12.7%) experienced critical symptoms leading to the ICU hospitalization, compared to the control group (7.3%). Multivariable regression analysis identified several factors significantly associated with increased mortality risk. These included ICU hospitalization (OR=5.27, CI: 3.09 -8.98), advanced age (OR=4.06, CI: 2.43 -6.80), hypertension (OR=4.44, CI: 1.52 -12.93), cardiovascular diseases (OR=2.56, CI: 1.1 -5.98), and critical symptoms (OR=2.74, CI: 1.92 - 8.04). Diabetes, pregnancy, nationality, and gender did not statistically increase mortality risk (p -value ≥ 0.05).

Conclusion : Advanced age, severe symptoms requiring ICU care, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases are all critical mortality risk factors in hospitalized COVID -19 patients.