Clinical features of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome and analysis of risk factors for mortality

BACKGROUND: To understand the clinical characteristics of and explore the risk factors for mortality in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). METHODS: Data from SFTS patients diagnosed by laboratory examination at Chaohu Hospital affiliated with Anhui Medical University from June 2017 to January 2021 were retrospectively analysed. According to the clinical results, all confirmed patients were divided into the surviving group (80 patients) and non-surviving group (20 patients). The two groups were compared in terms of general characteristics, clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory indicators and other aspects. The independent risk factors for mortality in SFTS patients were analysed by multivariate binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed a significant difference in age and the incidence of consciousness disturbance, respiratory failure, haemorrhagic manifestations, renal dysfunction, shock, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≥400 U/L, creatine kinase (CK)≥1000 U/L, creatine kinase isoenzymes (CK-MB) ≥100 U/L, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ≥1000 U/L, serum creatinine ≥100 mmol/L, blood urea nitrogen ≥7.5 mmol/L and C-reactive protein ≥8 mg/L between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Consciousness disorder, haemorrhagic manifestations, renal dysfunction, AST ≥ 400 U/L, and LDH ≥ 1000 U/L are independent risk factors for mortality in SFTS patients and merit close attention in clinical treatment to avoid fatal consequences.