Clinical, Laboratory, and Demographic Factors Contributing to COVID-19 Mortality Risk

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to identify COVID-19 mortality risk factors and relevant laboratory markers to inform prevention and treatment strategies. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Iran, involving 1561 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between 2019 and 2021. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected from hospital records and analyzed using a logistic regression model. Results: The mortality rate attributed to COVID-19 in this study was 24.7%. Identified risk factors for mortality included intubation, multiple chronic conditions, liver or kidney disease or cancer, low RBC levels, and abnormal creatinine (Cr) levels. The adjusted odds ratios (adjOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for these factors were as follows: intubation (70.75, 14.07:355.84), concurrent chronic diseases (24.29, 3.25:181.24), liver or kidney disease or cancer (5.13, 1.21:21.81), low RBC levels (5.21, 1.24:21.79), and abnormal Cr levels (5.09, 1.21:21.43). Conclusion: The findings from this study indicated that several factors, including intubation, multiple chronic conditions, liver or kidney disease or cancer, and low Cr levels were associated with a higher risk of death from COVID-19. These results highlight the significance of continuous monitoring and specialized care for patients exhibiting these risk factors to reduce the risk of COVID-19 mortality.