Factors associated with death in hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome by Covid-19: a retrospective longitudinal study in a city in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a challenge for health systems. Considering the importance of determining possible risk groups, this study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile and to evaluate the factors associated with death in hospitalized patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome caused by SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19), in Contagem, Minas Gerais, during the year of 2020. A bivariate logistic regression was performed for each explanatory variable, followed by step-by-step backward selection. Only adjusted variables showing a significant association remained in the final model. This study demonstrates that the chances of death in hospitalized patients were higher in men; people aged 60 years or older; that presented respiratory distress as a symptom; that were obese or immunocompromised; that had cardiac, hepatic, renal, pulmonary or neurologic chronic diseases; and that required intensive care unit admission or invasive respiratory support. We conclude that COVID-19 represents an enormous challenge for health systems, demanding the need for specialized hospital services. Therefore, knowing the risk profile is a necessary tool to optimize treatment and to prevent worse outcomes.

KEY WORDS: Severe acute respiratory syndrome; coronavirus infection; advance health care planning; health correlates; risk factor; covid-19.