1397Clinical status of consulting COVID 19 cases and fatal outcome in a Cameroon regional hospital

Background Due to its high attack rate, COVID 19 is responsible for a high number of deaths despite its relatively low lethality rate. This study was conducted to assess the relationship between time to consultation, presence of respiratory complications at hospital admission and fatal outcome of COVID 19 cases. Methods This was a case control design study which collected data from records of all COVID 19 patients admitted in Bafoussam Regional Hospital from March 2020 to April 2021. The association between the delay in seeking care, dyspnoea and blood oxygen level at admission, and fatal outcome was assessed by estimating crude and adjusted odd ratio. Results Of 400 included patients, 239 (59.75%) were male, 84 (23.73%) health professionals and 144 (36.0%) aged 64 years and above. The mean duration of hospitalization was 11.39 days and 120 (30.0%) admitted patient died. Seeking care during or before the end of the first day of symptom onset significantly reduced the risk (Adjusted (A) OR = 0.4 (0.16-0.98)) of fatal outcome, whereas waiting three (AOR=0.6(0.31-1.16))or seven days (AOR=0.91(0.47-1.75)) did not change this risk. Dyspnoea (AOR=2.71(1.38-5.29)) or oxygen level <95% (AOR=22.87(2.99-174.76)) significantly increased the risk of fatal outcome. Conclusions Health interventions contributing for early detection and connection of COVID 19 cases to care before respiratory complications occur are expected to reduce mortality in COVID 19 patients.