Factors associated with deaths from COVID-19 in a region of northeastern Brazil

• Published in: Journal of infection in developing countries Vol. 17; no. 9; pp. 1179 - 1187
• Main Authors: Alves de Oliveira, Rayanne, Da Silva, Janiel Conceição, Santos, Lívia Fernanda Siqueira, Pascoal, Livia Maia, Yamamura, Mellina, Santos, Floriacy Stabnow, Costa, Ana Cristina Pereira de Jesus, Rolim, Isaura Leticia Tavares Palmeira, Lobato, Jaisane Santos Melo, Santos, Francisca Aline Arrais Sampaio, Bezerra, Janaína Miranda, De Sousa, Giana Gislanne da Silva, Aragão, Francisca Bruna Arruda, Dos Santos, Leonardo Hunaldo, Santos Neto, Marcelino
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sassari Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 01-09-2023
• Subjects: COVID-19; Mortality; Brazil
• ISSN: 1972-2680; 2036-6590; 1972-2680
• DOI: 10.3855/jidc.17346

Introduction: There is a need to improve knowledge and understanding of the factors associated with mortality from COVID-19 so that managers and decision-makers can implement strategies to mitigate and control the severe forms of the disease. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with deaths from COVID-19 in the state of Maranhão, in northeastern Brazil.
Methodology: This is a cross-sectional and analytical study with patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who died from March 2020 to January 2022. Simple and multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the association between clinical-epidemiological characteristics and death. The odds ratios were expressed using a 95% confidence interval and a 5% significance level.
Results: A total of 386,567 cases of COVID-19 were registered in the period, of which 10,986 died. Risk factors associated with deaths from COVID-19 were male sex, age over 30 years, positive reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) result, positive CT scan, and having one or more associated comorbidities. The three comorbidities linked to the highest propensity to die were diabetes mellitus, neurological disease, and obesity.
Conclusions: The study findings support the implementation of strategic actions by health care and surveillance professionals and managers towards reducing the incidence of the risk factors for mortality by COVID-19 in Maranhão.