Abstract Background Beyond the direct effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), laboratory findings and radiological alterations may be found due to the comorbidities presented by these individuals. The aim of this study was to assess whether individuals with multiple comorbidities exhibited more severe chest computed tomography (CT) findings and consequently experienced worse clinical outcomes. Methods An observational, retrospective cohort study was conducted with adults hospitalized for COVID-19. Demographic and laboratory data were collected. Laboratory data, including complete blood count and metabolic panel, were obtained within 48 hours of hospital admission. Pre-existing comorbidities were also recorded. Chest CT findings were classified as follows: 50% (mild involvement) and ≥50% (moderate to severe involvement). Results Data from 366 patients were analyzed, with an overall mortality rate of 36.5%. Patients over 60 years of age presented higher mortality rates (71% vs. 41%; p 0.001). Those with pulmonary involvement ≥50% showed significantly lower oxygenation levels (PaO2/FiO2 195 107-276 vs. 267 190-311; p 0.001) and higher mortality (53% vs. 28%; p 0.001). In the Cox time-dependent regression analysis adjusted for age and sex, using a 40-day hospitalization cutoff, greater chest CT impairment and a previous history of diabetes mellitus (DM) or obesity were significantly associated with an increased risk of death (HR 2.13, 95%CI: 1.40-3.25; HR 1.65, 95%CI 1.04-2.61, respectively). Conversely, no statistically significant associations were observed between multiple comorbidities, other individual comorbidities, or the interaction of chest CT impairment with DM or obesity and survival time. Conclusions Extensive pulmonary involvement on chest CT, along with DM and obesity at admission, may be associated with increased COVID-19 mortality within the first 40 days of hospitalization. This abstract is funded by: None
Prudente et al. (Fri,) studied this question.