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The main causes of death in patients with COVID-19

P Oboza1, N Ogarek, M Olszanecka-Glinianowicz

  • 1Students' Scientific Society at the Pathophysiology Unit, Pathophysiology Unit, Health Promotion and Obesity Management Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty, The Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. pkocelak@sum.edu.pl.

European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
|March 17, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The primary cause of COVID-19 deaths is multiple organ failure, driven by severe inflammation and genetic factors. Thrombotic microangiopathy, particularly in microcirculation, emerges as a dominant, fatal mechanism in COVID-19 mortality.

Area of Science:

  • * Pathology and Public Health
  • * Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology

Background:

  • * The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of deaths globally, with significant mortality reported in the United States, Brazil, and India.
  • * Understanding the precise mechanisms leading to fatal outcomes in COVID-19 is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To analyze available data on the causes of death attributed to COVID-19.
  • * To identify the primary pathological mechanisms underlying COVID-19 mortality.

Main Methods:

  • * Retrospective analysis of reported COVID-19 mortality data.
  • * Review of scientific literature on COVID-19 pathological mechanisms and contributing factors.

Main Results:

  • * Multiple organ failure is identified as the primary cause of death from COVID-19.
  • * Severe inflammatory response, potentially influenced by genetic predisposition, contributes significantly to organ failure.
  • * Systemic thrombotic microangiopathy and lung inflammation leading to hypoxia are key pathological processes, with thrombotic changes in microcirculation being the most dominant factor.

Conclusions:

  • * COVID-19 mortality is predominantly linked to multiple organ failure resulting from complex pathological pathways.
  • * Thrombotic microangiopathy and severe inflammation are critical determinants of fatal COVID-19 outcomes.
  • * Comorbidities may exacerbate thrombotic risks in COVID-19 patients, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the disease's lethality.

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