BMC Infectious Diseases (Feb 2022)

Epidemiological and clinical risk factors related to severe COVID-19 in Iran: a multi-center study

  • Seyed Mohammad Hashemi-Shahri,
  • Seyed Mohammad Nasiraldin Tabatabaei,
  • Alireza Ansari-Moghaddam,
  • Mahdi Mohammadi,
  • Hassan Okati-Aliabad,
  • Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei,
  • Hossein Ansari,
  • Mohammadhadi Abbasi,
  • Khodadad Sheikhzadeh,
  • Mehdi Zanganeh Baygi,
  • Majid Sartipi,
  • Sharareh Sanei-Sistani,
  • Ali Reza Salimi Khorashad,
  • Fatemeh Ansari-Moghadam,
  • Neda Torab,
  • Tahereh Khalili,
  • Ghasem Miri-Aliabad

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-022-07165-0
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background Iran was one of the first countries to be affected by COVID-19. Identifying factors associated with the severity of COVID-19 is effective in disease management. This study investigated the epidemiological and clinical features and factors related to the severity of COVID-19 in one of the less privileged areas in Iran. Methods In a multi-center study, all patients admitted to Zahedan University of Medical Sciences hospitals in southeastern Iran were investigated from February 29 to April 31, 2020. Demographic, epidemiological, and clinical data of patients were extracted from medical records. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the risk factors associated with the severity of COVID-19. Results Among the 413 patients, 55.5% were male, and 145 (35.10%) were in a severe condition at admission time. Multivariate analysis showed that the adjusted odds of the disease severity increased in patients with older age (OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.41–3.65), substance abuse (OR 2.49; 95% CI 1.14–5.43), having one underlying disease (OR 1.52; 95% CI 0.90–2.55), having two underlying disease (OR 2.31; 95% CI 1.19–4.50), and having three or more underlying disease (OR 2.60; 95% CI 1.19–5.66). Conclusions COVID-19 was more severe in older patients, patients with a history of substance abuse, and patients with the underlying disease. Understanding the factors affecting the disease severity can help the clinical management of COVID-19, especially in less privileged areas where fewer resources are available.

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