Socio demographic factors with clinical outcome among hospitalized patients in COVID-19 pandemic

Dear Editor, Kumar et al. made retrospective observation of EMR (Electronic Medical Record) of hospitalized patients in first and second waves of COVID -19 pandemic and got the study published which belongs to the developing world. The authors went to records of the patients presenting therein and drew their observations that are summarized in three neatly structured tables. The tables provide the findings in concise format. Key message may be derived by looking there and I am grateful to the investigators for getting it published in May 2024 issue of the Journal.[1] Nonetheless, there is a little point of curiosity where I want to draw their attention. Table 2 of the original article shows (status of) admission in wave 1 and 2 as a variable. Caption of the table is bivariate analysis showing association between socio-demographic factors and final outcome among COVID-19 patients. Under a header of Materials and Methods, the last line of text states discharge/death as final outcome. Therefore, what scenario emerges is that patients who got admitted during the first two waves of the pandemic, have a higher likelihood of adverse outcome, although it’s only a derivative and needs further clarification. Discharge and death are two opposite ends of the spectrum of final outcome of such patients. The study should specify its proportion, if available. That will help to clarify the doubts, if any. While discharge is a favourable and desirable outcome, mortality is not. What is the rationale behind clumping the 2 together, I am at sea. Intriguingly, there is no effect of gender on the final outcome as per Table 2. Table 1 has a caption of socio- demographic characteristics of patients. I presume it refers to hospitalized patients and shows that more males than females (close to three fourth) are inpatients. As admitted patients have a higher probability of adverse final outcome as per table, how it is so that still there is ‘no’ effect of gender. I am perplexed at the apparent contradiction. Conventional wisdom states that males have higher probability of developing complications for this disease.[2] Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest.