Introduction:

In December 2019, Wuhan, China had an outbreak of the COVID-19 disease, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease quickly turned into a pandemic. The risk factors associated with its mortality are yet to be determined. The Mortality Committee studies hospital deaths with the main objective of reducing preventable deaths.

Objectives:

To describe the comorbidity and demographic characteristics of the deaths from the first four-month period of 2020 at the Central Defense Hospital and their relationship with COVID-19.

Material and methods:

Cross-sectional, descriptive, observational and retrospective study. Clinical and demographic data of deaths in relation to the presence of COVID-19.

Results:

Of 371 deceased, 271 positive COVID-19 and 100 negative COVID-19-. Almost 1.8 times more than the expected mortality in the four-month period (208 to 371). Average age of the groups 80 and 84 years, range between 35 and 104 years. Hospital stay at positive COVID-19 10.1% compared to 5.5% at negative COVID-19. Foreign exitus under 70 years 80%. Exit location: hospital plant (84%). Average Charlson index score: 4 points (interquartile, 2-6), 53% estimated survival at 10 years. Most frequent comorbidities: HTN (70.5%); DM (36.5%); Oncological (31%); Pneumonia (86.7%). Poor general condition at admission (81.9%).

Conclusions:

The variable with the greatest power related to mortality was advanced age. Another group, without comorbidities, younger than 51 years, presented fatal evolution. Despite the difficulty in establishing the actual mortality rate from COVID-19, the difference between the expected deaths and those recorded by the Hospital Mortality Committee constitutes the most approximate value.