A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COVID-19 PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT CO-MORBIDITIES IN A RURAL TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE
*Chandrashekar T. V., Taseena Banu R., Vasantha Kamath and M. J. Jacob
ABSTRACT
Background- The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths worldwide, despite the numerous efforts to control spread, the disease continues to cause high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Patients with pre-existing co-morbidities were highly susceptible to severe illness and death. Methodology- 1754 confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to a rural tertiary care centre from July 1st to 12th December 2020 were included in the study and were divided into 2 categories, one with pre-existing co-morbidities and another without co-morbidities. The co-morbidity distribution with respect to age, sex, clinical presentation, laboratory investigations, inflammatory marker, severity category at admission, day seven of hospital stay and final outcome were recorded for the study and compared. Results- Various pre-existing co-morbidities were present in 60.95% patients and 39.05% had no co-morbidities. Middle-aged and elderly patients with co-morbidities were 53.3% and those without co-morbidities were 32.56%. Among them 61.09% males and 39.91% females had pre- existing co-morbidities; 44.53% males and 55.47% females affected had no co-morbidities. Common pulmonary symptoms, extra pulmonary symptoms and rapid progression of illness was prominent in patients with co-morbidities. Fever was the most common symptom in both the categories. Diabetes was the major co-morbid condition associated with high mortality ratio and case fatality rate. NLR ratio, CRP and D-DIMER were significantly elevated in patients with co- morbidities. Highest mortality ratio was seen in patients with co-morbidities. ARDS being the most common cause of death. Conclusion-In this study, it was inferred that middle-aged and elderly patient with co- morbidities had severe illness with a high mortality.
Keywords: COVID-19, Co-morbidities, pulmonary, Fever, Diabetes mellitus, D-DIMER.
[Full Text Article]
[Download Certificate]
SJIF Impact Factor: 7.065
