Impact of Comorbid Disease Risk Factors on Mortality Rates in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical role of comorbid diseases in influencing patient outcomes, with pre-existing conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and obesity significantly impacting mortality rates. Individuals with these comorbidities are at an elevated risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, highlighting the need for targeted clinical management and public health strategies. Objective To analyze the influence of comorbid disease risk factors on mortality rates among ‘COVID-19’ patients, identifying which pre-existing conditions most significantly affect patient outcomes. Methodology This research is an analytical observation using a case-control study design. The study involved 190 COVID-19 patients which were treated at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from January 2020 to December 2020. These patients were divided into two groups on the base of presence or absence of comorbidities, 95 participants included in case group and 95 participants as control group. We analyzed the data using odds ratios (OR) to explore the relationship between comorbidities and the mortality rate among these patients due to COVID-19. Results This study found that comorbidities significantly influence mortality rates in ‘COVID-19’ patients. Among 190 participants, 55.7% had diabetes, 31.5% had hypertension, and 8.4% had cardiovascular disorders. An analysis revealed that 74.7% of deceased patients had comorbid conditions, with an Odds Ratio of 7971, indicating a markedly increased risk of mortality. Conclusion Comorbid conditions notably influence mortality rates in ‘COVID-19’ patients, with cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and diabetes presenting the greatest risk. These results highlight the need for focused management approaches for individuals with these pre-existing conditions to reduce negative outcomes.