Analysis of lethal cases of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus according to the data of pathology department of Kharkiv Regional Clinical Hospital for the first half of 2021

Background. Given the great medical, social and economic significance of clinical research, pathogenesis and epidemiology of coronavirus infection, it is important to study the epidemiological and pathomorphological features of this infection in Ukraine, especially in fatal cases of this disease. Objective: to analyze the lethal cases of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with lethal cases of pneumonia of other etiologies according to the pathology department of Kharkiv Regional Clinical Hospital for the first half of 2021. Methods. The material of this study was the observation of an autopsy from the archival material the pathology department of Kharkiv Regional Clinical Hospital. The study of autopsy protocols took into account the seasonality of the disease, sex and age of the deceased, the number of bed-days, data of clinical diagnosis and coincidences of pathological diagnosis, as well as the ICD code. 256 protocols of pathological examinations for the first half of 2021 were studied. Results. Of the 256 deaths from pneumonia of various etiologies, 201 (78.52%) were caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. The highest number of deaths from pneumonia was registered in March, April and May 2021. The number of deaths of patients aged 18-44 years was 4.3% of the total, 45-59 years – 13.28%, 60-74 years – 47.27%, 75-90 years – 35.16%. The study sample among patients died of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 was dominated by women (57.42%, 147 cases), the number of men was 42.58% (109 cases). The direct causes of death were pulmonary-heart failure, multiple organ failure, acute pulmonary insufficiency, chronic pulmonary insufficiency, and pulmonary embolism. Conclusion. The obtained data can be useful for the analysis of regional features of epidemiology and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease in eastern Ukraine.