Epidemiology of COVID-19 Death Case between 1 April – 30 June 2021 in Bangkok

Abstract

The objective of this study was to inform the situation, demographic, and epidemiological characteristics
of the deaths from COVID-19 during the third phase of the outbreak (April 1 - June 30, 2021) in Bangkok. The study is a cross-sectional study. Data is secondary data from the database of death cases from the COVID-19 investigation report of the Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention between April 1 to June 30, 2021, a total of 1,159 cases were analyzed by percentage, mean, standard deviation and compare the difference by Chi-square statistic. The result of COVID-19 death cases was male (55.91%) more than female (44.09%), mean of age 65.88 ± 15.44 years old. Patients received endotracheal intubation 74.89%, pneumonia 89.82%, received antiretroviral therapy (87.66%), died at a hospital (99.05%), and some people died during transport to the hospital. (0.95%). When classifying COVID-19 death cases by age group less than 60 years old and more than or equal 60 years old. It was found different age groups had the different occupations (p-value<0.001). The most patients over 60 years old are not employed (69.49%), while the patient less than 60 years old are company employee (22.75%). Patients had different underlying diseases in each age group. The most common underlying condition in both groups of deaths was hypertension (p-value<0.05). Symptoms were various including fever, cough, sore throat and headache (p-value<0.05). It was found that receiving tracheal intubation was different between two groups (p-value<0.001). Therefore, reducing the death rate from COVID-19 should encourage increasing vaccination coverage among people, especially those with chronic diseases and the elderly, also known as group 608. The group should receive the vaccine most. Accessible services to people at all levels should be provided. Ministry of Public Health should enforce the campaigns for people to comply with public health measures for COVID-19 prevention. This should also include basic first-aid care training, observation of symptoms that could be potential be form COVID-19 infection for local health personnel as well as the public in order for prompt treatment. This can subsequently reduce the death rate in patients infected with COVID-19.