Risk Factors for Severe Cases of Inpatients with COVID-19 in Henan Province, China: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract Rationale: Our pilot study suggested that coexisting cerebrovascular diseases on admission with respiratory rate greater than 24 breaths per min, and LDH greater than 245U/L may be risk factors for death among hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Henan province, China. Whether these risk factors are associated with severe illness in inpatiente with COVID-19 is yet unclear.Background: To explore risk factors associated with severe cases in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Henan province, ChinaMethods: This study was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. A total of 112 patients with COVID-19 were admitted to Henan Provincial People's Hospital and Anyang Infectious Disease Hospital from February 3 to March 31, 2020. These patients were confirmed by SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test. Demographic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data, imaging changes, and definite severity typing of illness (severe cases or non-severe cases) were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between severe cases and non-severe cases. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to explore the risk factors associated with in-hospital severe cases.Results: A total of 104 patients (55 from Henan Provincial People's Hospital and 57 from Anyang Infectious Disease Hospital) were included in this study, of whom 62 (59.6%) were non-severe cases and 42 (40.4%) were severe cases. Multivariate regression showed increasing odds of in-hospital severe cases associated with age ³65 years (odds ratio 6.535 [95% CI, 1.365-31.295]; p=0.019), coexisting diabetes (11.165 [1.142-109.172], p=0.038), cough (17.494 [2.971-102.995]; p=0.002), increased procalcitonin (0.05-0.25ng/L) (9.640 [2.162-42.982]; p=0.003) and LDH greater than 245U/L (11.040 [2.661-45.808]; p=0.001) on admission.Conclusions: Age ³65 years, coexisting diabetes, cough, increased PCT, and LDH greater than 245U/L on admission may be risk factors for severe cases among hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Henan Province, China.