Frequency and factors associated with severe COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To determine the frequency and factors leading to the development of severe COVID-19 in patients presenting at civil hospital, Karachi. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Medicine, Dr. Ruth K.M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi. Period: July 16, 2021 to January 15, 2022. Methods: Patients of age 20 to 80 years of either gender and presented with fever (>38°C) for more than three days and diagnosed COVD-19 on PCR were included. Severity and factors of the disease were assessed and noted by researcher on pre-designed proforma. Results: The mean age was 48.5±11.07 years and most of the patients were males (56.7%) and urban residents (67%). Out of 97 COVID-19 patients, 12 had severe COVID-19 disease (12.4%), while 85 patients had mild to moderate COVID-19 disease (87.6%). In distribution of factors leading for development of severe covid-19, increasing age was noted in 8 (66.7%) patients, chronic kidney disease in 4 (33.3%), diabetes mellitus type II 3(25.0%), hypertension 6(50.0%), smoking 3 (25.0%), heart failure 2 (16.7%) while anemia was noted in 1 (8.3%) patient. Of 12 severe COVID-19 patients, 8 patients had positive family history of COVID-19. There was statistically significant association between COVID-19 severity and family history of COVID-19 (p=0.001). Conclusion: Severe covid-19 is common in patients presenting with fever while increasing age was noted as most common factor leading to development of severe covid-19 followed by hypertension and diabetes mellitus.