Spain is one of the countries that has suffered the most from the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the strain that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is a lack of information on the characteristics of this disease in the Spanish population. The objective of this study has been to characterize our patients from an epidemiological point of view and to identify the risk factors associated with mortality in our geographical area. We performed a prospective, longitudinal study on 188 hospitalized cases of SARS-Cov-2 infection in Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, in Reus, Spain, admitted between 15 th March 2020 and 30 th April 2020. We recorded demographic data, signs and symptoms and comorbidities. We also calculated the Charlson and McCabe indices. A total of 43 deaths occurred during the study period. Deceased patients were older than the survivors (77.7 ± 13.1 vs. 62.8 ± 18.4 years; p < 0.001). Logistic regression analyses showed that fever, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, diabetes mellitus and cancer were the variables that showed independent and statistically significant associations with mortality. The Charlson index was more efficient than the McCabe index in discriminating between deceased and survivors. This is one of the first studies to describe the factors associated with mortality in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Spain, and one of the few in the Mediterranean area. We identified the main factors independently associated with mortality in our population. Further studies are needed to complete and confirm our findings.

20Spain is one of the countries that has suffered the most from the impact of severe acute 21 respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the strain that causes coronavirus disease 22 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is a lack of information on the characteristics of this disease in 23 the Spanish population. The objective of this study has been to characterize our patients from 24 an epidemiological point of view and to identify the risk factors associated with mortality in our 25 geographical area. We performed a prospective, longitudinal study on 188 hospitalized cases of 26 SARS-Cov-2 infection in Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, in Reus, Spain, admitted between 27 15 th March 2020 and 30 th April 2020. We recorded demographic data, signs and symptoms and 28 comorbidities. We also calculated the Charlson and McCabe indices. A total of 43 deaths 29 occurred during the study period. Deceased patients were older than the survivors (77.7 ± 13.1 30 vs. 62.8 ± 18.4 years; p < 0.001). Logistic regression analyses showed that fever, pneumonia, 31 acute respiratory distress syndrome, diabetes mellitus and cancer were the variables that 32 showed independent and statistically significant associations with mortality. The Charlson index 33 was more efficient than the McCabe index in discriminating between deceased and survivors. 34 This is one of the first studies to describe the factors associated with mortality in patients 35 infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Spain, and one of the few in the Mediterranean area. We identified 36 the main factors independently associated with mortality in our population. Further studies in 37 are needed to complete and confirm our findings. 38 39 40 41