A review of the characteristics and outcomes of 900 COVID-19 patients hospitalized at a Tertiary Care Medical Center in New Jersey, USA

INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of literature surrounding the in-hospital mortality and associated risk factors among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected patient populations in our geographical area, northern New Jersey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort study was performed in a tertiary care academic medical center with two locations in Paterson and Wayne serving Passaic County in northern New Jersey. The study included all 900 patients with a positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) nasopharyngeal swab sample for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) viral test. We determined the in-hospital 75-day mortality of patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) compared to the medical-surgical floor unit. RESULTS: Overall in-hospital 75-day mortality was 40.7% (n = 367). The ICU group had a 77.1% (n = 237) mortality and the floor group a 21.9% (n = 130) mortality. The ICU group of patients had a higher incidence of cardiac injury, acute renal injury, liver failure, vasopressor use and the elevation of serum markers: ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin 6 (IL-6), D-dimer, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein compared to the floor group. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that age > 65 years, elevated IL6, acute renal injury, cardiac injury, and invasive mechanical ventilation were risk factors associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Age > 65 years, elevated IL6, acute renal injury, cardiac injury, and invasive mechanical ventilation were risk factors associated with mortality in our COVID-19 patients.