Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with Mucormycosis

Abstract

Background & Aims: Mucormycosis, commonly known as "Black Fungus," is an angio-invasive fungus and has become a significant concern during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to determine the prevalence rate of mucormycosis and related risk factors among COVID-19 patients, making an essential contribution to further understanding this opportunistic disease. Methods & Materials: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among 276 patients. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of mucormycosis. The diagnosis of mucormycosis was established through a combination of clinical symptoms, imaging findings, and microbiological confirmation. The study examined demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, including age, gender, duration of hospitalization, and laboratory results, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and blood sugar levels. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS Statistics software package (version 26). Statistical significance was set at a P-value of 0.05. Results: The mean age of patients participating in the study was 59±16 years. Among them, 158 patients (57.2%) were male, and 20 (7.2%) were diagnosed with mucormycosis. The analysis revealed a significant association between mucormycosis presence and various demographic and clinical variables, notably impacting hospitalization duration, blood sugar level, and serum CRP level. Conclusion: Findings from our study indicate that elevated CRP and blood sugar levels, as well as prolonged hospitalization, are significant risk factors for mucormycosis in the patients.

Keywords

• blood sugar
• c-reactive protein
• coronavirus infection
• corticosteroids
• mucormycosis
• opportunistic infection