Coronavirus: A third of all COVID-19 hospital patients die, with dementia and obesity carrying the highest risk

A third of all patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 die, with dementia and obesity the underlying health conditions carrying the biggest risk.

The finding comes from a major British study by the Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium which looked at almost 17,000 people admitted to hospital with the virus.

The research showed that overall a third (33%) of patients admitted died. For those in intensive care or high dependency units the mortality rate was 45%, increasing to 53% for those given invasive ventilation.

It found that 53% of patients in hospital for COVID-19 have a pre-existing condition, with chronic heart disease the most common (29%), followed by uncomplicated diabetes, non-asthmatic chronic pulmonary disease, and asthma.

But it also found that the risk of death was 39% higher among patients with dementia, 37% higher in obese patients and 31% higher for heart disease.

This means that, after adjusting for other medical problems such as lung, heart and kidney disease, having a BMI (body mass index) over 30 is a significant factor associated with death from the disease.

The researchers believe the reason for the increased risk could be because obese people have reduced lung function and possibly more inflammation in adipose tissue - the fatty tissue around the internal organs.

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This could contribute to a "cytokine storm", the life-threatening over-reaction by the body's immune system that is being seen in many COVID-19 hospital patients.

The rate of hospital admission and death also increased with age.

The research also tracked the most commons symptoms displayed by patients, with cough and fever the most common.

The study also found:

Professor Calum Semple, who is leading the largest study of coronavirus patients in the UK, said the rate of death was "the same for those admitted to hospital with Ebola".