Assessment of the Epidemiological and Clinical Factors Affecting Case Fatality Rate of Covid-19 in Samarra General Hospital

Abstract

Background: Case fatality rate is the most important measure of fatal disease severity, in which the proportion of number of people died from certain disease compared to the total number of people diagnosed with this  disease  for  certain  period  of  time.  According  to  many  reports reaching Public Health Department in Salahiddin Health Directorate, there was an increase in number of deaths of covid-19 cases in Samarra General Hospital, for that reason the current study conducted to estimate the case fatality rate of covid-19 in Samarra Hospital and to assess the epidemiological and clinical factors affecting it. 
Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was done for all deaths happened in Samarra General Hospital due to covid-19 for the period from 23/6/2020 (the first death of covid-19 in Samarra), to 12/9/2020, and the total number studied was 81 deaths. From those only 57 deaths happened inside the hospital. 
The data related to epidemiological and clinical factors of those 57 deaths were collected and analyzed statistically using Microsoft Excel 2013. 
Results: 
The study showed that case fatality rate of covid-19 in Samarra city was (6.6%) which is more than that of Iraq. Deaths among male was more than  female,  and the larger number  of  deaths occur in age groups younger than that worldwide. 
Conclusion: The case fatality rate of covid-19 in Samarra city is higher than normal in comparison with other cities. In Salahiddin, there is a need to assess the management guidelines used in Samarra General Hospital.