Evolution of hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru

Abstract

Introduction: The hospitalization of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic increased significantly, and evidenced
the shortcomings of the health systems, which did not respond adequately and efficiently. Objective: To determine the evolution of hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. Methods: Descriptive, cross sectional, retrospective research. Done with a data of 115,306 patients, who were assessed their latest evolution,
admission to the Intensive Care Unit, if they received oxygen or ventilation, died from COVID-19 and vaccination
against this disease, according to data from the national data platform open from the Ministry of Health of Peru.
To analyze the data, absolute and relative frequencies were used and for the comparative association of variables,
the chi-square of homogeneity with a statistical significance of p <0.01. Results: Of the patients admitted to the
Intensive Care Unit, who received oxygen and ventilation, 51.1%, 59.1% and 44.9%, respectively, were discharged.
Of the 28.3% of patients who died, 90.2% were from COVID-19. The largest proportion were adults (51.1%) and older adults (31.2%), of which 36.3% and 62.4% died from COVID-19. Of those who died from COVID-19, 96.9% did not have any dose of vaccine against the disease. Conclusion: More than half of the patients who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and received oxygen were discharged, the majority of deaths from COVID-19 were adults, older adults and not vaccinated. The differences between all pairs of compared variables were highly significant (p <0.001).