Clinical characteristics and mortality rates associated with MERS-COV-2 infection among patients from Sohag Governorate, Egypt

Objective This study aimed to investigate the impact of different clinical characteristics associated with MERS-CoV2 infection and mortality among patients from Sohag Fever Hospital, Sohag Governorate, Egypt. Background Currently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the dangerous life-threatening diseases prevalent worldwide. Different clinical studies were carried out to increase the range of diagnosis level and predict its mortality rates in terms of different clinical and nonclinical characteristics. Patients and methods In the current case–control study, a hundred patients, hospitalized in Sohag Fever Hospital, Sohag Governorate, Egypt, were recruited in the period from October 2020 to December 2020. Sixty-four patients were positive PCR for COVID-19, while the other 34 were negative and were recruited as controls. Data included the demographic and clinical information such as their ages, place of residence, and infection symptoms in addition to laboratory investigation results such as complete blood count, differential blood count and hemoglobin (Hb) level, and clinical data such as %O2 saturation, respiration rates per minute, and body temperature were collected. The data were statistically interpreted. Results PCR positivity was more prevalent among females (73.2%) and urban residents (67%). Lower %O2 (45.2%, 52.8%), higher white blood cell counts (72.2%, 27.8%), and lower Hb levels (69.8%, 31.2%) showed significantly different distributions among male and female participants, respectively. PCR results and chest computed tomographic scan were significantly affected by %O2 saturation (87.1%, 45.2%), body temperature (100%, 53.3%), respiration rate (100%, 47.3%), and increase in the number of symptoms (100%, 22.2%), respectively. It was found that Hypertension (95% confidence of intervals (CI)= 0.061–0.245) and %O2 saturation values (95% CI= 0.077–0.523) are significantly related to the higher mortality rates due to MERS-COV-2 infection. Conclusion The study revealed the impact and correlation between the severity and risk of mortality of COVID-19 with different clinical markers such as lower %O2 saturation, high body temperature, higher respiration rate, higher white blood cell count, and lower Hb levels. Further studies might be required to investigate the effect of more clinical data and comorbidities associated with the viral infection.