Causes of death and comorbidities in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: Infection by the new corona virus strain SARS-CoV-2 and its related syndrome COVID-19 has been associated with more than two million deaths worldwide. Patients of higher age and with preexisting chronic health conditions are at an increased risk of fatal disease outcome. However, detailed information on causes of death and the contribution of pre-existing health conditions to death yet is missing, which can be reliably established by autopsy only. We performed full body autopsies on 26 patients that had died after SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 at the Charité University Hospital Berlin, Germany, or at associated teaching hospitals. We systematically evaluated causes of death and pre-existing health conditions. Additionally, clinical records and death certificates were evaluated. We repo

SUBMITTER: Elezkurtaj S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7895917 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature