approximately 15% of COVID-19 patients develop symptoms necessitating admission. From 2020 to 2022, Mashonaland West Province had an institutional case fatality rate of 23% against a national rate of 7%. Therefore, we evaluated the COVID-19 admissions in the province to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 mortality.
Methods:
we conducted an analytical cross-sectional study based on secondary data from isolation centers across the province using all 672 death audit forms and patientrecords. We obtained data on patient demographics, signs and symptoms, clinical management and oxygentherapy administered, among other things. Data were entered into an electronic form and imported into Epi-info 7 for analysis bivariate and multivariate was conducted.
Results:
we found that being an older man, aOR 1.04 (1.03-1.05), who had diabetes aOR 6.0 (95% CI 3.8-9.2) and hypertension aOR 4.5 (95% CI 2.8-6.5) were independent risk factors. Patients put on dexamethasone aOR 2.4 (95% CI 1.6-3.4) and heparin/clexane aOR 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.2) had a higher mortalityrisk. However, vitamin C aOR 0.48 (95% CI 0.31-0.71) and oxygentherapy aOR 0.14 (95% CI 0.10-0.19) and being pregnant aOR 0.06 (95% CI 0.02-0.14) were protective.