Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a condition brought on by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is a significant global cause of illness and mortality. Finding modifiable risk variables might help lower COVID-19 infection-related mortality. Objective: The aim of the current study to identify the factors associated with mortality in patients admitted with COVID-19 in our Minia University Cardiothoracic Hospital. Patients and methods: A total of 329 real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed COVID-19 infected patients were subjected to complete history taking, general and local chest examination, and some laboratory investigations (Total leucocytic count “TLC", lymphocyte count, serum ferritin, D dimer, C-reactive protein “CRP" and Lactic Dehydrogenase “LDH"). Patients were followed up from admission to discharge. They were assessed regarding need for non-invasive (NIV) or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and duration spent on them if present and also regarding length of hospital stay and mortality.
Results: The study showed that non-survivors had significantly higher age than survivors (P-value 0.0001). Hypertension was more prevalent in non-survivor group (72.1%) than survivors (47.3%) (P-value 0.0001). Also, Diabetes Mellitus was significantly found to be more in non-survivors (65.4%) than in survivors (41.8%) (P-value 0.0001). Moreover, comorbid cardiac disease was presented more in non-survivors (15.4%) than survivors (8.00%) (P-value 0.036). Regarding laboratory parameters, significantly higher TLC, serum ferritin, D dimer, CRP and LDH and lower lymphocytic count were observed in the non-survivor group (P-value 0.0001 for all). Regarding mechanical ventilation use, more non-survivor patients required NIV and IMV with more days spent on them (P-value 0.0001 for all). Conclusions: Older age, hypertension, DM, cardiac disease, higher TLC, serum ferritin, D dimer, CRP, LDH and lower lymphocytic count are associated with higher mortality in COVID-19 infected patients. Also, need for mechanical ventilation whether invasive or non-invasive is associated with higher mortality.