Health Science Reports (Jan 2024)

Hyperglycemia and elevated C‐reactive protein are independent predictors of hospital mortality in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients in South‐Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: A cross‐sectional study

  • Christian Tshongo,
  • Marius Baguma,
  • Guy‐Quesney Mateso,
  • Samuel Lwamushi Makali,
  • Aline Bedha,
  • Pacifique Mwene‐Batu,
  • Martine Mihigo,
  • Fabrice Nzabara,
  • Cordule Balola,
  • Pierre Kabuya,
  • Achille Bapolisi,
  • Mannix I. Masimango,
  • Esto Bahizire,
  • Ghislain Maheshe‐Balemba,
  • Tony A. Shindano,
  • Cikomola Cirhuza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1803
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract Background and Aim The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic was a priority public health problem because of its high mortality rate. This study mainly aimed to determine factors associated with a poor outcome in COVID‐19 hospitalized patients in South‐Kivu, an eastern province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Methods This observational study retrospectively evaluated medical records of patients consecutively admitted for probable or confirmed COVID‐19 between May 01 and July 31, 2020 at the Hôpital Provincial Général de Référence de Bukavu (HPGRB), a tertiary hospital located in South‐Kivu. A binary logistic regression model was performed to determine the predictors of mortality. Results A total of 157 hospitalized COVID‐19 patients aged 57.7 (13.2) years were included in this study. Male gender (69.4%), older age (52.9%), medical history of diabetes (38.2%), and arterial hypertension (35.1%) were the most frequent risk factors. Most patients presented with fever (73.3%), cough (72.6%), and dyspnea (66.2%). Overall, 45.1% of patients died. Intrahospital mortality was significantly associated with advanced age [odds ratio, OR (95% confidence interval, CI) = 2.34 (1.06–5.38)], hypoxemia [OR (95% CI) = 4.67 (2.02–10.77)], hyperglycemia [OR (95% CI) = 2.14 (1.06–4.31)], kidney failure [OR (95% CI) = 2.82 (1.4–5.68)], hyperleukocytosis [OR (95% CI) = 3.33 (1.67–6.66)], and higher C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels [OR (95% CI) = 3.93 (1.93–8.01)]. After adjustment for various covariates, only higher CRP levels [OR (95% CI) = 3.23 (1.23–8.5)] and hyperglycemia [OR (95% CI) = 2.5 (1.02–6.11)] at admission were independently associated with mortality. Conclusion Hyperglycemia and marked inflammatory syndrome were the major predictors of poor outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID‐19 in South‐Kivu. These two factors should be quantified at hospital admission to establish the patient's prognosis.

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