Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-۱۹ mortality in a referral hospital in Iran during ۲۰۲۱

Background: Understanding the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with COVID-۱۹-related mortality across various regions is essential for developing targeted public health interventions and enhancing clinical care.Objective: This retrospective observational study aimed to explore the epidemiological and clinical profiles of COVID-۱۹ fatalities at Shahid Beheshti Hospital, a referral center in Kashan, Iran, during the year ۲۰۲۱.Methods: We included all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-۱۹ via RT-PCR who died during their hospitalization from January to December ۲۰۲۱. Data were extracted from the hospital’s electronic health records and encompassed demographic information, comorbidities, substance use, vaccination status, clinical symptoms, vital signs, ICU admissions, treatments administered, and blood type. Descriptive statistics were computed using SPSS version ۲۶.Results: Out of ۹۵۰ recorded COVID-۱۹ deaths, complete records were available for ۵۰۷ patients. The mean age of the deceased patients was ۷۰.۶ ± ۱۱.۰ years, with females constituting ۵۳.۵% of the sample. A majority of patients were married (۷۴.۹%) and resided in urban areas (۸۱.۳%). The most prevalent comorbidities included hypertension (۱۸.۳%), diabetes (۱۶.۰%), and cardiovascular disease (۹.۱%). Substance use was documented in ۲۷.۸% of cases, while only ۴.۷% had received two doses of the vaccine; ۶۱.۱% were unvaccinated. The predominant clinical symptoms were cough (۸۸.۷%) and fever (۸۱.۱%). The mean oxygen saturation at admission was ۹۰.۹ ± ۳.۷%. ICU admission occurred in ۸۰.۵% of cases, and intubation was necessary for ۸۶.۰%. Corticosteroids were administered to ۹۶.۲% of patients, remdesivir to ۶۸.۸%, and tocilizumab to ۲۵.۸%. Blood group A was the most frequently observed blood type (۴۵.۷%).Conclusion: The findings indicate that COVID-۱۹ mortality in this population was significantly associated with advanced age, pre-existing comorbidities, and low vaccination rates. These results highlight the urgent need for targeted vaccination initiatives, early identification of high-risk individuals, and improved access to critical care services in middle-income countries.

کلیدواژه ها:

COVID-۱۹ ، mortality ، risk factors ، comorbidities ، Epidemiology