Predictors of mortality among COVID-19 patients at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Northern Tanzania: A hospital-based retrospective cohort study

BackgroundCOVID-19 disease is a global public health disaster causing a range of social, economic, and healthcare difficulties, border restrictions, high human loss, lockdown, and transportation challenges. Despite it being a global pandemic, there are few studies conducted in Tanzania to examine the predictors of mortality. This disease has caused a significant number of mortalities worldwide but literature shows low mortality and better survival in Africa than in other WHO regions. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the predictors of mortality among COVID-19 patients at KCMC Hospital in Northern Tanzania. MethodologyThis was the hospital-based retrospective cohort study, conducted at KCMC Hospital in Northern Tanzania among all admitted patients with confirmed COVID-19, from 10th March 2020 to 26th January 2022. The main study event was COVID-19 mortality. The predictors of mortality were determined by using the Weibull survival regression model and the statistically significant results were declared at a p-value of <0.05. ResultsA total of 547 confirmed COVID-19 patient records were included in the study. Their median age was 63 (IQR; 53-83), about 60% were aged 60 years and above, and 56.7% were males. The most common clinical features were; fever (60.8%), a severe form of the disease (44.4%), difficulty in breathing (73.3%), chest pain (46.1%), and generalized body weakness (71.3%). Of all participants, over one-third (34.6%) died (95%CI; 0.31-0.39). The median survival time was 7 days (IQR; 3-12). The overall mortality rate was 32.33 per 1000 person-days while the independent predictors of higher mortality risk were age [&ge;]60 years (AHR=2.01; 95%CI 1.41-2.87; P<0.001), disease severity (AHR=4.44; 95%CI 2.56-7.73; P<0.001) and male sex (AHR=1.28; 95%CI; 0.93-1.73; P=0.128). ConclusionMortality was higher in elderly male patients, with a severe form of the disease and those with any comorbidities. Therefore, more attention should be provided to older patients including uptake of the current vaccine and ensuring standard and supportive care at primary health facilities is available.