Purpose: This study examined the factors affecting mortality and clinical severity score (CSS) of male and
female patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) using clinical epidemiological information
provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Methods: This is a retrospective, observational cohort study. From January 21 to April 30, 2020, a total of
5624 patients who were released from quarantine or died were analyzed.
Results: The factors influencing release or death that differed by sex were high heart rate and malignancy
in males and chronic kidney disease in females. In addition, the factors influencing progression to severe
CSS were high BMI (severe obesity) and rheumatic disease in males and high temperature, sputum
production, absence of sore throat and headache, chronic kidney disease, malignancy, and chronic liver
disease in females. Older age, low lymphocyte count and platelets, dyspnea, diabetes mellitus, dementia,
and intensive care unit (ICU) admission affected mortality in all the patients, and older age, low
lymphocyte count and platelets, fever, dyspnea, diabetes mellitus, dementia, and ICU admission affected
progression to severe stage of CSS.
Conclusions: This study is expected to contribute to the general results by analyzing nationally representative
data. The results of this study present an important basis for development of differentiated
nursing and medical management strategies in consideration of factors that influence treatment effects
and outcomes according to sex of patients with COVID-19.