COVID-19 in Northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina and Patient’s Length of Hospitalization

Abstract Background Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, clinical data from various parts of the world have been reported. Until now, there has been no clinical data with regards to COVID-19 from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The aim was to report on the first cohort of patients from B&H and to analyze clinical factors of COVID-19 patients that have influenced the length of hospitalization (LOH) of COVID-19 infected patients.Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Tuzla University Clinical Center (UKC). It included 25 COVID-19 positive patients that were hospitalized between March 28th and April 27th 2020. The LOH was measured from the time of admission to discharge. Factors analyzed induced age, BMI, presence of known comorbidities, serum creatinine and O2 saturation upon admission.Results The mean age was 52.92±19.15 years and BMI 28.80±4.22. LOH for patients with BMI <25 was 9± SE2.646 days (CI 95% 3.814-14.816) vs 14.182 ±SE .937 (CI 95% 12.346-16.018 p<0.05; HR 5.148 CI95% 1.217 to 21.772 p=0.026) for ≥25 BMI. The mean LOH of patients with normal levels of O2 ≥95% was 11.667 ±SE1.202 (CI95% 8.261 to 13.739; p=0.046), while LOH for patients with <95% was 14.625 ±SE 1.231 CI95% 12.184 to 16.757 p=0.042; HR 3.732 CI95%1.137-12.251 p=0.03). Patients without known comorbidities had a mean LOH of 11.700± SE1.075 (CI 95% 9.592-13.808), while those with comorbidities had a mean of 14.8±1.303 (CI 95% 12.247-17.353; p=0.029) with HR2.552Conclusion LOH varied among COVID-19 patients and was prolonged when clinical characteristics such as BMI, known comorbidities, elevated creatinine, and O2 saturation <95% were present. Furthermore, risk factors for COVID-19 patients in B&H do not deviate from those reported in other countries.