Abstract Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Identifying preadmission predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients is crucial for managing resources effectively and prioritizing high-risk individuals. This single-center, observational, retrospective study aimed to define the predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total of 108 adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 were included in the study, and their electronic medical records were reviewed for demographic and clinical data. Various laboratory results, including complete blood count, glycated hemoglobin, liver and renal function tests, C-reactive protein, and others, were collected at the time of admission. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors of in-hospital mortality. Results: The study revealed a concerning in-hospital mortality rate of 51.9%. Surprisingly, no significant associations were found between mortality and age, gender, body mass index, or nationality. Hypertension emerged as a critical preexisting comorbidity significantly associated with increased mortality risk. Patients without hypertension were nearly seven times more likely to survive COVID-19 compared to those with hypertension. Conclusions: This study highlights hypertension as a critical factor influencing COVID-19 mortality. Identifying and prioritizing patients with preexisting hypertension can potentially help reduce the mortality rate in COVID-19 patients and aid in resource allocation during the ongoing pandemic.
Wail Tashkandi (Mon,) studied this question.