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Mortality by COVID-19 Before Vaccination - One Year Experience of Hospitalized Patients in Madrid
Víctor Moreno-Torres1, Alejandro Muñoz-Serrano1, Jorge Calderón-Parra1
1Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
The mortality rate for hospitalized COVID-19 patients remained stable during the first year of the pandemic. Advanced age and multiple comorbidities were key characteristics of non-survivors, especially in the absence of vaccines.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic saw significant mortality among hospitalized patients.
- Understanding the characteristics of deceased patients is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze mortality patterns and patient demographics of individuals who died from COVID-19 during the initial year of the pandemic.
- To identify changes or consistencies in the profile of non-survivors across different pandemic waves.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of all COVID-19 admissions at a tertiary hospital in Madrid.
- Data divided into three distinct pandemic waves: March-June 2020, July-November 2020, and December 2020-April 2021.
Main Results:
- Overall inpatient mortality rate was 12.9% with no significant differences across the three waves.
- Deceased patients had a median age of 82 years and a median Charlson Comorbidity Index of 6.
- The third wave showed a higher prevalence of lung disease, increased ICU admissions, and fewer patients from nursing homes or with dementia among deceased individuals.
Conclusions:
- Hospitalized COVID-19 patient mortality and non-survivor profiles remained largely consistent throughout the first year.
- Advanced age and multiple comorbidities, particularly lung disease, were defining characteristics of non-survivors before vaccine availability.
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to analyze the mortality and characteristics of deceased patients with COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic.
Methods:
All admissions owing to COVID-19 at a tertiary hospital in Madrid were analyzed. Three waves were considered: March 2020 to June 2020, July 2020 to November 2020, and December 2020 to April 2021.
Results:
A total of 3,676 patients were identified. Among inpatients, no differences regarding age, sex, length of admission, or mortality were found between the 3 waves (p >0.05). The overall mortality rate was 12.9%. Among deceased patients, the median age was 82 years and the median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 6. Considering the main predictors for mortality by COVID-19 (age, sex, and concomitant comorbidities), only patients with previous lung disease were more prevalent in the third period (p <0.01). Finally, higher intensive care unit admission rates, a lower rate of patients coming from nursing homes, and a lower rate of patients with dementia were noted in the third period (p <0.05) among deceased patients.
Conclusion:
One year after the onset of the pandemic, the mortality rate of hospitalized patients and the profile of non-survivors have not changed significantly. In the absence of vaccine benefits, advanced age and multiple pathologies are uniform characteristics of non-survivors.
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