History of premorbid depression is a risk factor for COVID-related mortality: Analysis of 1,387 COVID+ patients
Abstract
Background
The goal of the present work was to examine risk factors for mortality in a 1,387 COVID+ patients admitted to a hospital in Suffolk County, NY.
Methods
Data were collated by the hospital epidemiological service for patients admitted from 3/7/2020-9/1/2020. Time until final discharge or death was the outcome. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate time until death among admitted patients.
Findings
In total, 99.06% of cases had resolved leading to 1,179 discharges and 211 deaths. Length of stay was significantly longer in those who died as compared to those who did not p=0.007). Of patients who had been discharged (n=1,179), 54 were readmitted and 9 subsequently died. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression revealed that in addition to older age, male sex, and heart failure that a history of premorbid depression was a risk factors for COVI-19 mortality (HR = 2.64 [1.54-4.54] P<0.001), and that this association remained after adjusting for age and for neuropsychiatric conditions as well as medical comorbidities including cardiovascular disease and pulmonary conditions. Sex-stratified analyses revealed that associations between mortality and depression was strongest in males (aHR = 4.45 [2.04-9.72], P<0.001), and that the association between heart failure and mortality was strongest in participants aged <65 years old (aHR = 30.50 [9.17-101.48], P<0.001).
Interpretation
While an increasing number of studies have identified a number of comorbid medical conditions and age of patient as risk factors for mortality in COVID+ patients, this study reports that history of depression is a risk factor for COVID mortality.
Funding
No funding was received for this study.
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