Abstract:
Background: COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus known as severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS-Cov-2) and it is suggested as beta coronavirus by genetic sequencing.
Although cardiovascular disease is a major comorbidity of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID 19), its impact on Covid-19 disease severity and treatment outcome is not clear.
Objective: To assess the severity, treatment outcome and associated factors among hospitalized
COVID-19 patients at Jimma Medical Center
Methods: Retrospective study was conducted at COVID-19 treatment center of Jimma Medical
Center. Data were collected from January 3 to March 4 2022 by reviewing patient’s medical
charts and from database using data abstraction checklist prepared for this research. Logistic
regression models were used to determine the degree of association between factors like age, sex,
residence, medications used for cardiovascular management, treatments used for COVID-19 and
pre-existing cardiovascular disease on COVID-19 disease severity and treatment outcomes. A
variable having a p-value of ≤0.25 in the binary analysis was subjected to multivariable analysis.
Results: A total of 275 patient cards were included in this study, of which 66.5% were males.
Hypertension was the most prevalent and associated with high risk of death from the spectrum of
cardiovascular diseases. From all cardiovascular disease hypertension was the most prevalent.
The risk of developing critical COVID-19 in patients with comorbid cardiovascular disease was
higher compared to patients without comorbid cardiovascular disease [AOR, 5.794; 95% CI,
2.516- 13.343]. Patients with comorbid cardiovascular disease and prescribed antibiotics has
high risk of death [AOR 2.137; CI 95% 1.02-4.476] and [AOR 2.692; CI 95% 1.132-6.404]
compared to patients without comorbid cardiovascular disease and not prescribed antibiotics
respectively.
Conclusion and Recommendations: In general the presence of pre-existing cardiovascular
disease was associated with higher risk of severe COVID-19 and death. Thus priority should be
given to the prevention of the infection.
