Predictors of mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a Tunisian university hospital

Introduction: Mortality rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continue to rise across the world. The predictors of mortality in COVID- 19 patients are under study. Objectives: we aim to evaluate the risk factors associated with the death of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: We analysed data of laboratory confirmed hospitalized patients at the COVID-19 unit of a university hospital in the Tunisian center, between September 2020 and January 2021.Patients' characteristics, comorbidities, and laboratory abnormalities were recorded. Potential predictors of in-hospital mortality were identified by multivariable Cox regression model. Results: A total of 256 patients were included.Mean age was 66 years (SD, 14 years) and 62% (n = 158) patients were males. Forty-eight percent (n = 123) of patients had at least two co-morbidity with hypertension and diabetesas the most common comorbidities.Severe cases accounted for 52% of the study population.The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 29% (n = 72). multivariate analysisrevealed that Age > = 60 years (HR 5.87, p < 0.001);The presence of coronary heart disease (HR 2.47, p = 0.027) and leukocytes ≥ 10,000 (HR 2.25, p = 0.012),were independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Predictors could assist clinicians to identify patients with a poor prognosis at an early stage to reduce the Covid-19-related mortality and rationalize the use of limited medical resources.