Association between Pre-Existing Comorbidities and COVID-19 Related Mortality: A Meta-Analysis Study

Objective: In our study, we aimed to examine the proportion of comorbidities in survivors and non-survivors and investigate the association between the comorbidities and COVID-19 related mortality. Methods: We searched Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science for articles up to January, 2021. Patients’ outcomes were selected as survived and non-survived. Comorbidities were selected as kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, autoimmune disease and malignancy. Odds ratios (ORs) were reported using fixed-effect and random-effect meta-analysis. The heterogeneity was assessed by the Chi-square test and Higgins' I2 test. The publication bias was examined via funnel plot and Hegger’s test. Results Our meta-analysis was conducted based on 11467 COVID-19 cases from 16 studies. Compared to the survivors, the odds of kidney disease (OR=2.30; 95% CI: 1.96-2.70; p<0.001), odds of hypertension (OR=2.14; 95% CI: 1.67-2.76; p<0.001), odds of diabetes mellitus (OR=1.85; 95% CI: 1.63-2.10; p<0.001), odds of cardiovascular disease (OR=2.85; 95% CI: 2.00-4.06; p<0.001) were higher in non-survivors. There was no significant difference for the odds of liver disease, malignancy and autoimmune disease (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggests that the major comorbidities such kidney disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease increase the risk of death from COVID-19 disease. Our study also highlights the importance of appropriate treatment for the patients with these specific comorbidities to meet their need.