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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Jul 8;21(1):663.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-021-06369-0.

Predictors of mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Changcheng Shi #  1 , Limin Wang #  2 , Jian Ye #  2 , Zhichun Gu #  3 , Shuying Wang  4 , Junbo Xia  2 , Yaping Xie  5 , Qingyu Li  1 , Renjie Xu  6 , Nengming Lin  7   8
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Predictors of mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Changcheng Shi et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a high mortality rate, especially in patients with severe illness. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the potential predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and three electronic Chinese databases were searched from December 1, 2019 to April 29, 2020. Eligible studies reporting potential predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19 were identified. Unadjusted prognostic effect estimates were pooled using the random-effects model if data from at least two studies were available. Adjusted prognostic effect estimates were presented by qualitative analysis.

Results: Thirty-six observational studies were identified, of which 27 were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 106 potential risk factors were tested, and the following important predictors were associated with mortality: advanced age, male sex, current smoking status, preexisting comorbidities (especially chronic kidney, respiratory, and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases), symptoms of dyspnea, complications during hospitalization, corticosteroid therapy and a severe condition. Additionally, a series of abnormal laboratory biomarkers of hematologic parameters, hepatorenal function, inflammation, coagulation, and cardiovascular injury were also associated with fatal outcome.

Conclusion: We identified predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19. These findings could help healthcare providers take appropriate measures and improve clinical outcomes in such patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; Meta-analysis; Mortality; Predictors; Systematic review.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the literature search and selection process
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Pooled analyses of predictors for mortality in COVID-19 patients stratified by risk factor type
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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