Factors associated with COVID-19 disease severity and treatment outcomes in Jimma Medical Center, South West Ethiopia

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.