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Observational Study
. 2024 Jun;14(2):349-362.
doi: 10.1007/s44197-024-00206-8. Epub 2024 Feb 26.

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics Associated with COVID-19 Severity Among Hospitalized Patients in the United Arab Emirates: A Retrospective Multicentre Study

Najlaa Al-Bluwi #  1 , Razan Agha #  1 , Ankita Shukla  1 , Rouba Karen Zeidan  1 , Hamzah AlZubaidi  1   2   3 , Manal Awad  4 , Amal Hussein  5 , Muzan Abdelbagi  6   7 , Khaled AlSayed  6   7 , Mohamad B Alebaji  6   7 , Mahasin Shaheen  7 , Laila Salameh  1   8 , Bassam Mahboub  8 , Hady Elkhodary  9 , Riyad Bendardaf  1   10 , Ghada Mohammed  6   10 , Dima Wardat  1 , Zahraa Al-Hano  11 , Hajir I Amara  1 , Mohamed Saleh Alhajjaj  6 , Qutayba Hamid  1   6 , Rabih Halwani  1   6 , Basema Saddik  12   13   14
Affiliations
Observational Study

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics Associated with COVID-19 Severity Among Hospitalized Patients in the United Arab Emirates: A Retrospective Multicentre Study

Najlaa Al-Bluwi et al. J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the clinical and epidemiological factors associated with severe COVID-19 cases in hospitalized patients across two emirates within the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Methods: A retrospective observational analytical study analysed data from 738 medical records and conducted 573 in-depth interviews with patients hospitalized across multiple healthcare centers in the UAE, between 29 January 2020 and 14 October 2021. Regression analysis predicted risk factors for COVID-19 severity.

Results: Main risk factors identified were crowding (aOR 1.919; 95%CI 1.144, 3.221), obesity (aOR 2.383; 95%CI 1.332, 4.263), diabetes (aOR 11.14; 95%CI 2.653-46.797), severe dehydration (aOR 3.219; 95%CI 2.161, 4.795), cough or sore throat (aOR 1.607; 95%CI 1.032, 2.502), shortness of breath (aOR 1.921; 95%CI 1.294, 2.853), increased days from symptom onset to admission (aOR 1.055; 95%CI 1.006, 1.105), elevated ANC (aOR 1.263, 95%CI 1.121, 1.424), and AST/SGOT (aOR 1.055, 95% CI 1.016, 1.095). Protective factors included smoking (aOR 0.367; 95%CI 0.182, 0.740), first dose of COVID-19 vaccination (aOR 0.595; 95%CI 0.377, 0.93), higher oxygen saturation (aOR 0.853; 95%CI: 0.801, 0.907) and elevated ALC (aOR 0.540; 95%CI 0.323, 0.905).

Conclusion: Identifying risk factors is crucial for high-risk individuals who may require closer monitoring to improve their outcomes. This can provide guidance for surveillance systems and early detection strategies to mitigate the impact of future outbreaks.

Keywords: COVID-19; Clinical; Epidemiological; Predictor; Severity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors state that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that might have appeared to affect the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Description and breakdown of patients’ data
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Percentages of pre-existing comorbidities among study participants (N = 738)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Percentages of COVID-19 severity and symptoms on admission of study participants (N = 738)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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