%0 Journal Article
%@ 2369-6893
%I JMIR Publications
%V 8
%N 1
%P e36576
%T The Impact of Comorbidities on COVID-19 Severity and Mortality in Egypt
%A Elghazaly,Shereen
%A Abu El Sood,Hanaa
%A Samy,Sahar
%A AbdelFatah,Mohamad
%A Hassany,Mohamed
%A Khader,Yousef
%A Afifi,Salma
%A Eid,Alaa
%+ Ministry of Health and Population, 3 Magles Elshaab St, Cairo, Egypt, 20 1002925933, drshereen84@yahoo.com
%K COVID-19
%K comorbidities
%K mortality
%K severe outcome
%K public health surveillance.
%D 2022
%7 7.2.2022
%9 Abstract
%J iproc
%G English
%X Background: Older persons and people of any age with certain underlying comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and cancer are at a higher risk of severe disease course and death if they become infected with COVID-19. Identifying at-risk groups and risk factors for COVID-19 severity and mortality is important for guiding the efficient and appropriate prevention and management of patients with COVID-19. Objective: This study aimed at describing the demographics and epidemiologic characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Egypt and determining the impact of different comorbidities on patients’ outcomes. Methods: The data of all confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to 408 governmental hospitals all over Egypt from February to May 2020 were collected retrospectively from the National Egyptian Disease Surveillance System. The cases were confirmed using RT-PCR. Results: Overall, 28,415 patients (55% male and 45% female) were identified. Their median age was 44 years. Of those, 743 (2.6%) were admitted to ICU, 408 (1.4%) required ventilator, and 1045 (3.7%) died. Of the 21,617 (76.1%) patients with completed data, 4687 (21.7%) had comorbidities. Overall, 11.8% had diabetes, 5.3% cardiovascular disease, and 4.3% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Those who had 1 comorbidity were more likely to die (odds ratio 2.83), were admitted to ICU (odds ratio 6.36), and needed a ventilator (odds ratio 5.95) compared to patients with no comorbidities. Having multiple comorbidities increased the risk of mortality (odds ratio 3.53), ICU admission (odds ratio 8.62), and requiring a ventilator (odds ratio 9.06). Conclusions: COVID-19 patients with comorbidities had a higher risk of disease severity and mortality. Multiple comorbidities further increase the risk to a higher extent. All necessary precautions should be taken for patients with comorbidities to avoid COVID-19 infection in order to prevent the worst prognosis. 
%R 10.2196/36576
%U https://www.iproc.org/2022/1/e36576
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/36576