JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Older population and people of any age with underlying certain comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular, lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease and cancer are at higher risk of severe disease course and death if they become infected with COVID-19. Identifying risky group and risk factors for COVID-19 severity and mortality is important for guiding efficient and appropriate prevention and management of patients with COVID-19.

Objective:

This study aims at describing demographics and epidemiologic characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Egypt and determine the impact of different comorbidities on patients’ outcomes.

Methods:

Data of all confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to 408 governmental hospitals allover Egypt February-May 2020 were collected retrospectively from the National Egyptian Disease Surveillance System. Cases were confirmed using RT-PCR.

Results:

Overall, 28,415 patients ("55.0% " males, "45.0% " females) were identified. Their median age was 44 years. Of those, "743(2.6%) were admitted to ICU ", "408(1.4%) required ventilator and 1,045(3.7%) died ". Of "21,617(76.1%) patients with completed data ", "4,687(21.7%) had comorbidities. Overall ", "11.8% " had diabetes, "5.3% " cardiovascular disease and "4.3% " chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Those with one comorbidity were more likely to die (OR = 2.83), admitted to ICU (OR = 6.36) and need ventilator (OR = 5.95) compared to patients with no comorbidities. Having multiple comorbidities increased risk of mortality (OR = 3.53), ICU admission (OR = 8.62), and requiring ventilator (OR = 9.06).

Conclusions:

COVID-19 Patients with comorbidities had higher risk of disease severity and mortality. Multiple comorbidities further increase the risk to higher extent. All necessary precautions should be taken for patients with comorbidities to avoid COVID-19 infection to prevent the worst prognosis.