Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly become a worldwide concern ever since first being reported from Wuhan, China in December 2019. With no known cure, there is widespread fear-provoking interest in studying the factors contributing to mortality.

Aim and Objectives: The current study was undertaken with a view to try to understand the cause of morbidity and mortality.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study done in our Institution on COVID-19 patients admitted over a course of 3 months after approval from Institutional Ethics Committee.

Results: We had 17 deaths over the period under consideration whereas 73 patients improved (mortality = 19%, n = 90). Most of the patients were in the 41–80 years age group (>70%). No gender preponderance was found with mortality in each being around 20%. A clear correlation between co-morbidities and mortality was found with no person without any comorbidity succumbing to the disease. Respiratory and Heart conditions were found to contribute most to mortality with patients presenting with shortness of breath being most at risk. Similarly, a Neutrophil: Lymphocyte ratio greater than 12 was found to significantly increase the mortality.

Conclusion: Patients with comorbidities need to be monitored closely with treatment being directed at improving the respiratory outcome.

Key words: COVID-19; Co-morbidity; Neutrophil: Lymphocyte Ratio; Mortality