BMC Infectious Diseases (Oct 2021)

Assessment of mortality from COVID-19 in a multicultural multi-ethnic patient population

  • Satish Chandrasekhar Nair,
  • Huda Imam Gasmelseed,
  • Asad Afroz Khan,
  • Ibrahim Nageh Khafagy,
  • Jayadevan Sreedharan,
  • Aqeel Aziz Saleem,
  • Hashim Ibrahim Abdrhman,
  • Ahmed Husain Alhosani,
  • Amatur Rahman Siddiqua,
  • Amna Riaz Ahmed,
  • Aya Imad Shubbar,
  • Abdul Rahman Aleissaee,
  • Abdulrahman Wael Alanqar,
  • Alan Mohammad Hamadeh,
  • Fatmah Ali Safdani,
  • Fuad Wardan Habbal,
  • Haneen Bassam Choker,
  • Khlood Mustafa Bashir,
  • Maitha Ali Alblooshi,
  • Majd Munir Farajallah,
  • Mohamed Nasir Alzaabi,
  • Rajish Sanjit Shil,
  • Saif Saeed Alshehhi,
  • Wafa Fayez Douleh

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-021-06762-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background Studies indicate that ethnicity and socioeconomic disparity are significant facilitators for COVID-19 mortality. The United Arab Emirates, distinctly has a population of almost 12% citizens and the rest, immigrants, are mainly unskilled labourers. The disparate socio-economic structure, crowded housing conditions, and multi-ethnic population offer a unique set of challenges in COVID-19 management. Methods Patient characteristics, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes data from the electronic patient medical records were retrospectively extracted from the hospital information system of the two designated public COVID-19 referral hospitals. Chi-square test, logistic regression, and odds ratio were used to analyse the variables. Results From, the total of 3072 patients, less than one-fifth were females; the Asian population (71.2%);followed by Middle Eastern Arabs (23.3%) were the most infected by the virus. Diabetes Mellitus (26.8%), hypertension (25.7%) and heart disease (9.6%) were the most prevalent comorbidities observed among COVID-19 patients. Kidney disease as comorbidity significantly diminished the survival rates (Crude OR 9.6, 95% CI (5.6–16.6), p < 0.001) and (Adjusted OR 5.7 95% CI (3.0 – 10.8), p < 0.001), as compared to those patients without kidney disease. Similarly, the higher age of patients between 51 and 65 years, significantly decreased the odds for survival (Crude OR 14.1 95% CI (3.4–58.4), p < 0.001) and (Adjusted OR 12.3 95% CI (2.9 – 52.4), p < 0.001). Patient age beyond 66 years, further significantly decreased the odds for survival (Crude OR 36.1 95% CI (8.5–154.1), p < 0.001), and (Adjusted OR 26.6 95% CI (5.7 – 123.8), p < 0.001). Conclusion Our study indicates that older ages above 51 years and kidney disease increased mortality significantly in COVID-19 patients. Ethnicity was not significantly associated with mortality in the UAE population. Our findings are important in the management of the COVID-19 disease in the region with similar economic, social, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.

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