What factors did people who died from COVID-19 have in common?

In a recent study, researchers analyzed the health records of 85 individuals who died from COVID-19 in Wuhan, China and identified factors that the people shared.

Among these individuals, 72.9% were male, the median age was 65.8 years, and underlying chronic conditions were common.

The researchers write, “We hope that this study conveys the seriousness of COVID-19 and emphasizes the risk groups of males over 50 with chronic comorbid conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary heart disease, and diabetes.”

They also identify that “While respiratory symptoms may not develop until a week after presentation, once they do, there can be a rapid decline, as indicated by the short duration between time of admission and death (6.35 days on average) in our study.”

The authors acknowledge that this data was collected in the early phase of the outbreak and from just one region. The findings may not apply more generally because “Genetics may play a role in the response to the infection, and the course of the pandemic may change as the virus mutates.”