Prevalence of comorbidities in cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: a retrospective study

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 147; pp. 1 - e35
• Main Authors: Alqahtani, F Y, Aleanizy, F S, Ali El Hadi Mohamed, R, Alanazi, M S, Mohamed, N, Alrasheed, M M, Abanmy, N, Alhawassi, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Cambridge University Press 01-01-2019
• Subjects: Cardiovascular diseases; Comorbidities; Comorbidity; Congestive heart failure; Coronary artery disease; Coronaviridae; Coronaviruses; Demographics; Diabetes mellitus; End-stage renal disease; Epidemiology; Fatalities; Heart diseases; Hypertension; Ischemia; Kidney diseases; middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Mortality; Original Paper; Patients; Renal failure; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory failure; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Statistical analysis; Middle East; Saudi Arabia; middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus; Comorbidities; mortality
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268818002923

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a life-threatening respiratory disease with a high case fatality rate; however, its risk factors remain unclear. We aimed to explore the influence of demographic factors, clinical manifestations and underlying comorbidities on mortality in MERS-CoV patients. Retrospective chart reviews were performed to identify all laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-COV infection in Saudi Arabia that were reported to the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia between 23 April 2014 and 7 June 2016. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the effect of sex, age, clinical presentation and comorbidities on mortality from MERS-CoV. A total of 281 confirmed MERS-CoV cases were identified: 167 (59.4%) patients were male and 55 (20%) died. Mortality predominantly occurred among Saudi nationals and older patients and was significantly associated with respiratory failure and shortness of breath. Of the 281 confirmed cases, 160 (56.9%) involved comorbidities, wherein diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, end-stage renal disease and chronic kidney disease were significantly associated with mortality from MERS-CoV and two or three comorbidities significantly affected the fatality rates from MERS-CoV. The findings of this study show that old age and the existence of underlying comorbidities significantly increase mortality from MERS-CoV.