ABSTRACT
Background:As the knowledge about the risk factors and treatment options of COVID 19 is still evolving, we attempted to study the clinical characteristics, comorbidities and laboratory markers in 98 COVID nonsurvivors from a tertiary care centre in Tamilnadu. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we included 98 cases of laboratory confirmed COVID non survivors in Velammal medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Madurai between June 20, 2020 to October 10, 2020. Information on demography, clinical features, risk factors, laboratory and radiological findings and treatment details was extracted from medical records. Results:A total of 98 patients (Median age 63 years, 73.5% males) were included. Comorbidities were present in nearly 80% of pa- tients, with hypertension being the most common comorbidity, followed by diabetes and coronary heart disease. The most common symptoms on admission were fever, cough and breathlessness. Biochemical and hematological markers taken at the time of admis- sion and 24 hours before death were analysed. Initial laboratory findings of non-survivors demonstrated higher WBC count, neutro- philia, lymphopenia, raised AST, ALT, ferritin, IL6 and procalcitonin. Throughout hospitalization, there was consistent rise in inflamma- tory markers and rise in blood urea and low serum albumin was observed. Low molecular weight Heparin, steroids, antiviral fabipiravir, azithromycin and noninva- sive ventilation was given in 70% patients. Patients who were intubated were ad- ministered tocilizumab in addition to the above treatment. Mean days of hospitali- zation was 9 days. Average survival time was 13 days. Most common cause of death was ARDS and respiratory failure. [Formula presented] Conclusions:This retrospective study identified the important laboratory markers which predicts mortality in adults. Progressive high neutrophil count, lymphocyto- penia, low serum albumin, elevated ALT, blood urea, raised LDH, D-dimer, ferritin and procalcitonin are significantly associated with mortality