Risk factors associated with mortality among vaccinated COVID-19 patients: A retrospective study

Objective: To explore the underlying causes of death among vaccinated COVID-19 patients. Methods: The medical record of COVID-19 patients admitted to the main COVID-19 referral center in southeast Iran from January to March 2022 was investigated. Then, risk factors for mortality were statistically assessed. Results: 92 patients were included, with 50 in infectious disease ward and 42 in ICU ward. In total, 37% of patients succumbed to COVID-19. The median age of those who died was 69.9 years. Dementia and genitourinary system-related diseases was associated with an increased risk of death [6.00 (95% CI : 1.14-31.66) and 4.93 (95% CI : 1.80-13.52)]. Furthermore, the elevated levels of white blood cells, neutrophils, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine were associated with an increased risk of death by 4.93 (95% CI : 1.82-13.36), 16.57 (95% CI : 2.10-131.31), 3.23 (95% CI : 1.15-9.03), 4.48 (95% CI : 1.78-11.31), and 4.27 (95% CI : 1.49-12.22), respectively. Conclusions: Despite receiving the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, individuals who suffer from dementia and genitourinary system-related diseases are at risk of death with new strains of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, the increase of white blood cell, neutrophils, lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine in patients’ blood can be considered as warning indicators of disease progression and death.