Predictors of mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 1 - 15
• Main Authors: Shi, Changcheng, Wang, Limin, Ye, Jian, Gu, Zhichun, Wang, Shuying, Xia, Junbo, Xie, Yaping, Li, Qingyu, Xu, Renjie, Lin, Nengming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central Ltd 08.07.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Biomarkers; Cerebrovascular diseases; Coagulation; Complications; Coronaviruses; Corticosteroids; COVID-19; Demographic aspects; Dyspnea; Estimates; Fatalities; Meta-analysis; Mortality; Patients; Predictors; Qualitative analysis; Respiration; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Signs and symptoms; Systematic review; Vascular diseases; Viral diseases; China; United States > US
• ISSN: 1471-2334; 1471-2334
• DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06369-0

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a high mortality rate, especially in patients with severe illness. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the potential predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19. PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and three electronic Chinese databases were searched from December 1, 2019 to April 29, 2020. Eligible studies reporting potential predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19 were identified. Unadjusted prognostic effect estimates were pooled using the random-effects model if data from at least two studies were available. Adjusted prognostic effect estimates were presented by qualitative analysis. Thirty-six observational studies were identified, of which 27 were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 106 potential risk factors were tested, and the following important predictors were associated with mortality: advanced age, male sex, current smoking status, preexisting comorbidities (especially chronic kidney, respiratory, and cardio-cerebrovascular diseases), symptoms of dyspnea, complications during hospitalization, corticosteroid therapy and a severe condition. Additionally, a series of abnormal laboratory biomarkers of hematologic parameters, hepatorenal function, inflammation, coagulation, and cardiovascular injury were also associated with fatal outcome. We identified predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19. These findings could help healthcare providers take appropriate measures and improve clinical outcomes in such patients.