ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVETo determine the epidemiological characteristics of deaths from COVID-19 in Peru from March 28 to May 21, 2020, 85 days after the report of the first confirmed case. MATERIAL AND METHODSCase series type study. Deaths from various sources were investigated, including the COVID-19 Epidemiological Surveillance and the National System of Deaths. Deaths that met the definition of a confirmed case and had a positive (reactive) result of RT-PCR or rapid test were considered for the analysis. From these sources, epidemiological variables were obtained and a time analysis was performed, defining as the pre-hospital time the time from the onset of symptoms to the date of hospitalization and hospital time from the date of hospitalization to the date of death. RESULTS3,244 confirmed deaths were included in the study. Deaths were more frequent in males (71.8%), elders (68.3%), residents of the department of Lima (41.8%), and others from the coast (37.7%). In 81.3% of cases, the death occurred in a public hospital, 16.0% died at home, shelter, penitentiary institution, public highway, or in transit to a hospital, and 31.1% had some comorbidity. Statistical difference was observed in pre-hospital time according to age group (p <0.001) and gender (p = 0.037), being significantly higher in adults, elders, and women. There was a statistically significant difference in hospital time according to geographic area, showing a significantly shorter time in the departments of the coast (p <0.001) and Andean region (p = 0.014) compared to Lima. The cases that were seen in private clinics (p = 0.001) survived longer than those seen in public hospitals. CONCLUSIONDeaths from COVID-19 occur mainly in male, elders, on the coast, with considerable deaths at home, in shelters, penitentiaries, public roads, or in transit to a hospital. Pre-hospital time is affected by age group and gender; while, hospital time is also influenced by the region of origin and the health care provider.