Clinical characteristics and predictors for in-hospital mortality in adult COVID-19 patients: A retrospective single center cohort study in Vilnius, Lithuania

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 infection had spread worldwide causing many deaths. Mortality rates and patients’ characteristics varied within and between countries, making it important to understand the peculiarities of different populations. The aim of this study was to identify the main predictors associated with in-hospital mortality due to COVID-19 in Vilnius, Lithuania. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective observational cohort study conducted at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics, Lithuania. The study included SARS-CoV-2 positive patients aged over 18 years and hospitalized between March 2020 and May 2021. Depersonalized data were retrieved from electronic medical records. The predictive values of laboratory parameters were evaluated using ROC analysis. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to reveal predictors of in-hospital mortality due to COVID-19. RESULTS: Among 2794 patients, 54.4% were male, the age median was 59 years (IQR 48–70), 47.4% had at least one comorbidity. The most common comorbidities were arterial hypertension (36.9%) and diabetes mellitus (13.7%). Overall, 12.7% of patients died. Multivariable regression revealed that age (OR 1.04, 95%CI 1.02–1.06), congestive heart failure (OR 3.06, 95%CI 1.96–4.77), obesity (OR 3.90, 95%CI 2.12–7.16), COPD (OR 2.92, 95%CI 1.12–7.60), previous stroke (OR 5.80, 95%CI 2.07–16.21), urea >7.01 mmol/l (OR 2.32, 95%CI 1.47–3.67), AST/ALT >1.49 (OR 1.54, 95%CI 1.08–2.21), LDH >452.5 U/l (OR 2.60, 95%CI 1.74–3.88), CRP >92.68 mg/l (OR 1.58, 95%CI 1.06–2.35), IL-6 >69.55 ng/l (OR 1.62, 95%CI 1.10–2.40), and troponin I >18.95 ng/l (OR 2.04, 95%CI 1.38–3.02), were associated with increased risk for in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Age, congestive heart failure, obesity, COPD, prior stroke, and increased concentration of urea, LDH, CRP, IL-6, troponin I, ALT to AST ratio were identified to be the predictors for in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients.