Risk factors for COVID-19 severity and mortality among inpatients in Southern Iran

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory disease and many factors can affect its severity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with the severity and mortality of COVID-19. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 311 cases with COVID-19 approved by the CORONALAB database in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in southern Iran were selected using systematic random sampling from 15 May to 13 June 2020. The data were collected through interviews and phone calls using a researcher-made questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 45.82 ± 17.92 years, and the male to female ratio was 1.57:1. In addition, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was 4.50%, and the disease was severe in 47.5% of the cases. The most common clinical symptoms were cough (39.22%), fever (31.83%), and dyspnea (24.76%). The severity of COVID-19 was significantly associated with age and history of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Besides, the mortality of COVID-19 was significantly related to age, gender, hypertension, CVD, and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The mean interval between the onset of the first symptom and referral to a health center was 3.02 ± 2.82 days. Additionally, the mean interval between the referral to health centers and testing was 0.88 ± 2.20 days. CONCLUSION: Older patients, males, and those who had CVD, CKD, and hypertension required accurate healthcare and early intervention to prevent the exacerbation of COVID-19. Furthermore, the interval between the onset of the first symptom and testing was relatively long. Overall, early diagnosis, isolation, and treatment of patients were found to be essential to control COVID-19.