[Mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in northern Peru]

Abstract

Background: Peru has one of the highest mortality rates due to COVID-19 in the world.

Aim: To describe the clinical features, evolution and explore factors associated with mortality in patients with moderate to severe Covid-19.

Material and methods: Prospective analytical study. The clinical, laboratory, imaging, and mortality data of patients admitted at a COVID service of the Santa Rosa de Piura Hospital were recorded from April to June 2020.

Results: Data from 391 patients with a median age of 60 years (70% women) was gathered. The time lapse between the onset of the disease and hospitalization was seven days. The most common alteration in the blood count was Neutrophilia in 78% of patients. The median PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 77. The distribution of tomographic patterns was Ground glass in 91% of patients, interstitial involvement in 57%, consolidation in 43%. Sixteen percent of patients had at least one complication, the most common was an increase in transaminases in 2%. Four percent were admitted to the intensive care unit and 53% died (94% during hospitalization and 5.8% during ICU stay). In the bivariate analysis, an association was found between a higher mortality and older age (p = 0.01), having fewer days of illness (p = 0.03), fewer days of hospital stay (p < 0.01), having at least one comorbidity (p = 0.02), lymphopenia (p = 0.02), neutrophilia (P = 0.03) and lower PaO2/ FiO2 ratio (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Fifty percent of these patients died. Age, rapid progression, having comorbidities and other laboratory alterations were associated with mortality.