Outcomes of treatment and contributing factors for COVID-19 patients in the intensive care units of designated treatment centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2021/2022): a retrospective cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus. The World Health Organization declared it a global pandemic, leading to a swift rise in patient numbers that strained healthcare resources. This surge also resulted in an increase in both intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and mortality rates. The objective of this study was to identify the factors influencing treatment outcomes for COVID-19 patients in the ICU at selected treatment centers in Addis Ababa during the years 2021 and 2022. Methodology: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted between September 2021 and November 2022. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses explored the relationships between predictor variables and outcomes. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to indicate the direction and strength of associations, with a P -value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Result: A total of 272 patients participated in the study, resulting in a response rate of 94.11%. Among the participants, 158 (58.1%) were male. The total mortality rate was 186, corresponding to 68.4% of patients admitted to the ICU. Factors influencing treatment outcomes included age over 55 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.69, 95% CI, 1.29–5.58), a symptom duration exceeding 7 days before admission (AOR = 4.06, 95% CI, 2.10–7.85), the presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (AOR = 10.31, 95% CI, 1.32–80.21), intubation and mechanical ventilation (AOR = 15.39, 95% CI, 5.15–45.91), and the utilization of regional anesthesia (AOR = 0.12, 95% CI, 0.001–0.231). Conclusion: The likelihood of mortality rose with increasing age, delays in admission, the occurrence of complications, and more advanced disease stages, while the use of regional anesthesia appeared to be less associated with death due to COVID-19.