Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2025
Cutoff Value of Phase Angle by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis at Admission as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Acute Heart Failure
Published on: June 10, 2025
Risk Factors Related to the Death of Admitted COVID-19 Patients: A Buffalo Study
Doan Le Minh Hanh1, Phan Thai Hao1, Do Thi Tuong Oanh2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Insights
High mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients is linked to specific risk factors. Key predictors of death include elevated Brixia scores, high urea and ferritin levels, lack of vaccination, older age, and low oxygen saturation.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic with significant mortality among hospitalized patients.
- Despite advancements in understanding COVID-19, identifying mortality risk factors remains crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate independent risk factors associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients admitted to a hospital in Vietnam during a peak epidemic period.
- To identify key clinical and laboratory indicators that predict death in hospitalized COVID-19 cases.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study was conducted with 104 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- Data collected included demographics, medical history, clinical examination, laboratory results, and chest radiographs (Brixia score).
- Patients were followed until recovery or death to compare characteristics between survivors and non-survivors.
Main Results:
- The overall mortality rate was 29.8%.
- Independent risk factors for death included Brixia scores > 9, Urea > 7 mmol/L, Ferritin > 578 ng/ml, unvaccinated status, Age > 60 years, and low Oxygen SpO2 < 87%.
- A significant proportion of patients (84.6%) had comorbidities and required respiratory support (84.6%).
Conclusions:
- Brixia scores, urea, ferritin, vaccination status, age, and oxygen saturation are critical independent predictors of mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- These findings highlight the need for close monitoring of patients with these risk factors.
- Early identification and management of these risk factors may help reduce COVID-19 mortality.
Background:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may result in a severe acute respiratory syndrome that leads to a worldwide pandemic. Despite the increasing understanding of COVID-19 disease, the mortality rate of hospitalized COVID-19 patients remains high.
Objective:
To investigate the risk factors related to the mortality of admitted COVID-19 patients during the peak of the epidemic from August 2021 to October 2021 in Vietnam.
Methods:
This is a prospective cohort study performed at the Hospital for Rehabilitation-Professional diseases. The baseline and demographic data, medical history, clinical examination, the laboratory results were recorded for patients admitted to the hospital with confirmed COVID-19. A radiologist and a pulmonologist will read the chest radiographs on admission and calculate the Brixia scores to classify the severity of lung abnormalities. Patients were followed up until beingrecovered or their death. Comparison of clinical and subclinical characteristics between recovery and death groups to find out risk factors related to the death of COVID-19 patients.
Results:
Among 104 admitted COVID-19 patients, men accounted for 42.3%, average age of 61.7 ± 13.7. The most common symptoms were fever 76.9%, breathlessness 74%, and fatigue 53.8%. The majority (84.6%) of the study population had at least one co-morbidity, including hypertension (53.8%), diabetes (25.9%), gastritis (19.2%), ischemic heart disease (15.4) %), stroke (9.6%) and osteoarthritis (9.6%). The rate of mild and moderate COVID-19 is 13.4%, severe 32.7%, and critical 40.4%. There are 88 inpatients (84.6%) who needed respiratory support. The median hospital stay was 13 days (IQR 10-17.75 days). The rate of intubated patients with mechanical ventilation was 31.7%. The overall mortality rate was 29.8%. Risk factors related to death included Brixia scores > 9, Urea > 7 mmol/L, Ferrtin > 578 ng/ml, Failure to get vaccinated, Age > 60 years, and Low Oxygen SpO2 < 87% (BUFFALO).
Conclusion:
The main result of the study is the independent risk factors related to the death of admitted COVID-19 patients including Brixia scores > 9, Urea > 7 mmol/L, Ferrtin > 578 ng/ml, Failure to get vaccinated, Age > 60 years, and Low Oxygen SpO2 < 87% ((BUFFALO) which suggests that these COVID-19 patients should be closely followed up.
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...
01:30Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
01:29Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
01:18Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
01:30Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction