Clinical features of 162 fatal cases of COVID-19: a multi-center, retrospective study (preprint)

ABSTRACT

Understanding the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of fatal cases infected with SARS-CoV-2 is import to develop appropriate preventable intervention programs in hospitals. Demographic data, clinical symptoms, clinical course, co-morbidities, laboratory findings, CT scans, treatments and complications of 162 fatal cases were retrieved from electric medical records in 5 hospitals of Wuhan, China. The median age was 69.5 years old (IQR 63.0-77.25; range 29-96). 112 (69.1%) cases were men. Hypertension (45.1%) was the most common co-morbidity, but 59 (36.4%) cases had no co-morbidity. At admission, 131 (81.9%) cases were assessed as severe or critical. However, 39 (18.1%) were assessed as moderate. Moderate cases had a higher prevalence of hypertension and chronic lung disease comparing with severe or critical cases (P<0.05, respectively). 126 (77.8%) and 132 (81.5%) cases received antiviral treatment and glucocorticoids, respectively. 116 (71.6%) cases were admitted to ICU and 137 (85.1%) cases received mechanical ventilation. Respiratory failure or acute respiratory distress syndrome (93.2%) was the most common complication. The young cases of COVID-19, without co-morbidity and in a moderate condition at admission could develop fatal outcome. We need to be more cautious in case management of COVID-19 for preventing the fatal outcomes.