British Journal of Research Open Access

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Abstract

EXPLORING THE SECRETS OF THE CORONA VIRUS: MORTALITY DUE TO COVID-19; COVID-19 KILLS OR CONTRIBUTE TO KILL

Hamzullah Khan, Saadullah Afridi, Faridullah Shah, Mohammad Khalid and Khan Abu Zar

Objectives: To determine whether COVID-19 kills or it contributes to kill by evaluating the data of positive COVID-19 patients and the deceased with positive virology.

Materials and Methods: A total of 243 patients with PCR done from the government designated Public Health Research Laboratory of Khyber Medical University were included in a cross-sectional comparative study. Chi-square test, risk analysis, probability testing, and survival analysis using the Kaplan Meir test was done on the data sheet prepared in SPPS version 25th in accordance with the objectives of the study.

Results: Out of total 243 patients, 165 (67.90%) were negative by PCR testing, and 78 (32.09%) were COVID-19 positive. The mean age with SD was 36 ± 17 years. Out of total 178 (73.3%) were males and 65 (26.7%) were females. 34 (13.99%) had aged more than 55 years, where 4/5 (80%) of the deaths were recorded. The relationship of an increase in age with the rate of mortality was statistically significant (p=0.001). The overall probability of death in our population age more than 55 years is 24 times higher (OR=24,95 CI: 2.6-221.24) with a relative risk of 1.1 (rr=1.11, 95 CI:1-1.24). The mortality rate was 6.41%. A significant correlation of mortality with case positivity (p=0.003) with relative risk of 1.06 (rr=1.06,95 CI: 1.008-1.13). Three out of 5 of the COVID-19 positive deceased had cardiac diseases and 2/5 had respiratory disease/viral pneumonia. Using Kaplan Meir test, the survival graphs of COVID positive vs COVID negative cases had a similar pattern that shows the mortality rate in the positive cases was not solely due to COVID-19 but has aggravated the pre-existing illness to cause death.

Conclusion: The mortality rate was 6.41%, more in age>55 years (80%) and almost all the deceased had chronic co-morbid conditions like CAD, CCF, and COPD at the time of presentation. COVID-19 is not the sole killer, it contributes to killing in immune-deficient patients.