Mortality Risk Factors in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) Program Cohort Study in Southern Iran

Introduction: Elderly individuals, due to the negative impact of accompanying and underlying health conditions, face a higher risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, and if infected, their risk of mortality is significantly elevated. This study aimed to investigate COVID- 19 mortality risk factors in an elderly cohort in Bushehr. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using baseline data from the Bushehr Elderly Health (BEH) program. A total of 329 individuals were included in the study, of which 165 were hospitalized and 164 were outpatients. Through a reliable questionnaire, participants’ demographic and clinical data were obtained. Using 10 cc of venous blood, laboratory tests were performed. Results: Overall, among demographic factors, age significantly impacted patient mortality. Regarding underlying diseases, cardiovascular disease and hypertension had a significant effect on mortality (p-value = 0.05 and p-value = 0.012, respectively). Hospitalization status was also an influential factor in mortality, with hospitalized individuals experiencing significantly higher mortality rates than those treated on an outpatient basis (p-value = 0.001). The results indicate that biochemical parameters, including blood pressure, BUN (p-value = 0.006), and creatinine, are influential factors in patient mortality (p-value = 0.000). Discussion: Age, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease significantly increase COVID- 19 mortality risk. This finding aligns with existing research. Study limitations include the unavailability of complete patient details and potential observational bias. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that individuals with a history of hospitalization, hypertension, kidney diseases, and cardiovascular diseases, along with advanced age, are at a higher risk of mortality from COVID-19.