Disease progression patterns and risk factors associated with mortality in deceased patients with COVID‐19 in Hubei Province, China

BACKGROUND: Detailed descriptions of the patterns of disease progression of deceased coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients have not been well explored. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to explore disease progression patterns and risk factors associated with mortality of deceased patients with COVID‐19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and imaging data (from 15 January to 26 March 2020) of laboratory‐confirmed COVID‐19 patients were collected retrospectively from two hospitals, Hubei province, China. Disease progression patterns of patients were analyzed based on laboratory data, radiological findings, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Risk factors associated with death were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 792 patients were enrolled in this study, of whom 68 died and 724 survived. Complications during hospitalization, such as sepsis, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute cardiac injury, and acute kidney injury, were markedly more frequent in deceased patients than in surviving patients. Deceased patients presented progressive deterioration pattern in laboratory variables, chest computed tomography evaluation, and SOFA score, while surviving patients presented initial deterioration to peak level involvement followed by improvement pattern over time. Days 10 to 14 after illness onset was a critical stage of disease course. Older age, number of preexisting comorbidities ≥2, and SOFA score were independently associated with death for COVID‐19. CONCLUSIONS: Multiorgan dysfunction was common in deceased COVID‐19 patients. Deceased patients presented progressive deterioration pattern, while surviving patients presented a relatively stable pattern during disease progression. Older age, number of preexisting comorbidities ≥2, and SOFA score were independent risk factors for death for COVID‐19.