Epidemiological Characteristics and Mortality Risk Factors among COVID-19 Patients in Ardabil, Northwest of Iran

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease highly contagious, is prevalent in all age and sex groups infecting the respiratory system. The present study seeks to investigate the epidemiology and effective factors in mortality of patients with COVID-19 in Ardabil province, northwestern of Iran.Methods: In a retrospective study, the hospitalized patients with laboratory diagnosed COVID-19 between February to August, 2020 were enrolled. Data registration portal was designated according to WHO recommendation. In this portal, demographic information, clinical presentation, laboratorial and imaging data were registered for patients in all hospitals in the same format. The Hosmer-Lemeshow guideline was used for variable selection in a multiple model.Results: Of the patients involved 2812(50.3%) were male and 150 (2.7%) had a contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Pre-existing morbidity was reported in 1310 (23.4%) patients. Of all patients 477(8.5%) died due to COVID 19. The hospitalization in ICU had significant correlation with fever or chills, shortness of breath, aches and pains, runny nose and chest pain.Conclusions: Hospitalization had the strongest effect on mortality followed by hospitalization in ICU, and higher age. This study showed that having some symptoms like aches and pains and headache can serve as preventive factors of mortality.