In-hospital mortality in non-COVID patients: women die more

ABSTRACT

Premise and Study aim: In Italy at the end of 2020 more than 30.000 deaths were observed not attributable to COVID;we wanted to test this hypothesis in our non-COVID internal medicine, benchmark for an area of about 150.000 inhabitants. Materials and Methods: We compared the number of discharges and deaths hospitalized in our UOC in the year of the pandemic, 2020 and 2021, respect to 2019, and we assessed any differences in mortality between the years and gender, and if these had statistical significance. Results: Total mortality showed an increasing trend from 2019 to 2021 (statistically not significant);hospital mortality in males is reduced in 2020 and unchanged in 2021, mortality in females showed a clear increasing trend (OR1.58, IC0.96-2.06) in 2019, statistically significant (OR1.9, IC1.2-3.1) in 2021. Conclusions: Delayed hospitalization for “fear of infection” of more serious patients and with lower chances of survival, together with the drastic reduction/absence of territorial outpatient diagnosis and treatment activities starting from March 2020, with further impact on chronicity in 2021, can be considered responsible for the increase in in-hospital mortality compared to 2019, detected in our patients. Data become statistically significant in female population, and it is attributable both to a greater fragility (living alone, less economic resources, less education) and the role of main care givers in the pandemic, continuing to guarantee assistance to all family members, in particular to the partner, even if detrimental of self health.