Causes of Mortality in Hospitalized, PCR Positive Patients of Covid-19 At Tertiary Care Hospital of Sindh Pakistan

Abstract

In Pakistan, over 10,000 deaths have been reported due to COVID-19 while the exact course of illness and significant causes of mortality has not been found out. Objective: To enumerate the causes of death in hospitalized SARS CoV2 PCR positive patients and also to assess the relationship between COVID mortality and   comorbidities. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Liaquat University Hospital after taken permission from the ethical review committee. Study included SARS CoV2 PCR positive patients, admitted at Liaquat university hospital and expired during hospitalization, aged greater than 15 year and belonged from either gender. Operated and RTA patients were excluded from study. Results: Patient’s age ranged from 18 to 90 year. Mean age was 59.6-year, Male were 79% and female were 21%. Triad of fever, cough and SOB present in 48% of patients. Respiratory failure (54%) and respiratory failure with sepsis (38%) were the leading cause of fatality. Anova Test showed statistically significant correlation between causes of death and comorbidities with p-value 0.015. Both Diabetes and Hypertension were present in 25% of patients. Conclusions: The study concluded that male gender was the dominant sufferer of COVID-19 and in contrast to normal perception, younger age is not an exception for mortality due to COVID-19. Fever, cough and SOB were the most frequent complain. Respiratory failure alone and with sepsis, was found to be the leading reason for mortality. Causes of death were strongly linked with presence of comorbidities in covid 19 patients.