Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 23, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
Comorbidities and Risk Factors for Severe Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Fatema S Shaikh1, Nahier Aldhafferi1, Areej Buker1
1College of Computer Science and Information Technology, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal comorbidities significantly increase the risk of severe outcomes and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia. These findings highlight key factors for managing the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) reported its first novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in March 2020, with subsequent increases in infection and mortality rates.
- Understanding risk factors is crucial for managing COVID-19 severity and mortality in hospitalized patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors associated with severity and mortality in a cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in KSA.
- To analyze the impact of comorbidities on intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for 565 hospitalized COVID-19 patients confirmed by RT-PCR at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Riyadh (May-August 2020).
- Data collected included demographics, BMI, comorbidities, ICU admission, and clinical outcomes.
- Statistical analysis performed using Python Pandas and univariate Cox proportional hazards regression.
Main Results:
- 11.1% of patients died, and 17.9% required ICU admission.
- Cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal diseases were significantly associated with higher ICU admissions (p<0.001).
- Mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and neurological diseases. Cardiovascular comorbidity presented the highest risk of death (HR=2.9).
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal comorbidities are independent risk factors for critical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in KSA.
- These comorbidities significantly increase the risk of mortality.
- No significant differences in mortality or ICU admission were observed across different genders, age groups, BMIs, or nationalities.
Purpose:
The first novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) case in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was reported in Qatif in March 2020 with continual increase in infection and mortality rates since then. In this study, we aim to determine risk factors which effect severity and mortality rates in a cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in KSA.
Method:
We reviewed medical records of hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 positive results via reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) tests at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Riyadh between May and August 2020. Data were obtained for patient's demography, body mass index (BMI), and comorbidities. Additional data on patients that required intensive care unit (ICU) admission and clinical outcomes were recorded and analyzed with Python Pandas.
Results:
A total of 565 COVID-19 positive patients were inducted in the study out of which, 63 (11.1%) patients died while 101 (17.9%) patients required ICU admission. Disease incidences were significantly higher in males and non-Saudi nationals. Patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal diseases displayed significantly higher association with ICU admissions (p<0.001) while mortality rates were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and neurological diseases. Univariate cox proportional hazards regression model showed that COVID-19 positive patients requiring ICU admission [Hazard's ratio, HR=4.2 95% confidence interval, CI 2.5-7.2); p<0.001] with preexisting cardiovascular [HR=4.1 (CI 2.5-6.7); p<0.001] or respiratory [HR=4.0 (CI 2.0-8.1); p=0.010] diseases were at significantly higher risk for mortality among the positive patients. There were no significant differences in mortality rates or ICU admissions among males and females, and across different age groups, BMIs and nationalities. Hospitalized patients with cardiovascular comorbidity had the highest risk of death (HR=2.9, CI 1.7-5.0; p=0.020).
Conclusion:
Independent risk factors for critical outcomes among COVID-19 in KSA include cardiovascular, respiratory and renal comorbidities.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:26Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:25Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
01:18Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include: