Factors associated with disease severity and length of stay in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Tabriz, Iran: A retrospective cohort study

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread globally. Early and dynamic detection of prognostic factors is essential to improve the ability to treat COVID-19. The present study aimed to determine clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with the length of hospital stay and disease severity in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Tabriz, Iran.

This retrospective cohort study included 260 early diagnosed cases with COVID-19 hospitalized at two COVID-19 specialized hospitals in Tabriz, Iran, from April 20 to June 20, 2020. Patients’ medical records were used to collect the data. Severe COVID-19 outcomes included need for intubation, admission to the intensive care unit, or death. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics, including chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U test, and logistic regression analysis in SPSS 16.

The need for O2 therapy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.23; 95% CI: 1.15‒15.51; P = 0.03), the increased creatinine levels (AOR = 2.71; 95% CI: 1.25‒5.88; P = 0.01), and the white blood cell counts (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI: 1.12‒5.33; P = 0.02) were the main risk factors associated with prolonged hospital stay. Also, having kidney diseases (AOR = 7.33; 95% CI = 1.94‒27.70; P = 0.01), elevated the white blood cell counts (AOR = 4.52; 95% CI = 1.67‒12.26; P = 0.003), and lung diseases (AOR = 3.97; 95% CI: 1.18‒13.29; P = 0.03) were significant among the predictors of the disease severity.

According to the results, hypoxia and underlying diseases might lead to unwanted outcomes. The risk factors identified here confirm previous information and could be helpful to guide early clinical decision-making to reduce the mortality rates and improve the clinical outcomes of COVID-19.