Abstract:
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 has become one ofthe leading causes of death worldwide,
particularly among peoples with preexisting non-communicable diseases. However, a study
involving only COVID-19 patients with underlying NCDs has not been studied before.
Objective: To assess factors associated with mortality and compare baseline vital sign and
laboratory parameters among hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients with chronic non communicable diseases in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia, December15, 2022 to January 15, 2023.
Methods: Unmatched case-control study with a case to control ratio of 1:2 was conducted by
reviewing the medical records of COVID-19 patients hospitalized between June1, 2020 and June
30, 2022. Cases and controls were selected by a simple random sampling technique from the same
Hospital. Data were extracted using data abstraction tool. The data were entered into Epi-data
version 3.1and analyzed using SPSS version 22 software. Independent t-test and Mann-Whitney
U test were used to compare baseline vital sign and laboratory parameters. Bivariable and
multivariable logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis. AOR with 95% CI and
p-value <0.05 were used to declared levelof statistical significance.
Result: A total of 372 charts (125 cases and 247 controls) were included in the analysis. Charts
with incomplete data 9(2.4%) were excluded. The mean age of cases was higher than that of
controls (60 year (±14.7)) versus (53 year (±15.9)). Half of cases were 63(50.4%) female and 157
(63.6%) of controls were male. In multivariable analysis, age group 60 and above (AOR=2.5, 95%
CI (1.1-5.63)), being male (AOR=0.5, 95% CI (0.32-0.92)), hypertension (AOR = 2, 95% CI (1.14-
3.35)), diabetes mellitus (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI (1.1- 3.16)), severe COVID-19 (AOR = 4.9, 95%
CI (2.25- 10.86)), critical COVID-19 (AOR = 6.2, 95% CI (2.38-16.06)) and ICU admission
(AOR = 2.9, 95% CI (1.5-5.56)) were significantly associated with an increased odds of COVID 19 mortality.
Conclusion: Older age 60 year and above, having hypertension, being diabetic, severe disease,
critical disease, and being hospitalized in the ICU were significantly associated with an increased
odds of COVID-19 mortality. Whereas, being male had less chance of mortality. We recommend,
maintaining and strengthening of preventive measures intensively addressing older age, female,
hypertensive and diabetic COVID-19 patients and improving critical care serves
