Research

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a global challenge. High mortality rates have been reported in some risk groups, including patients with pre-existing mental disorders. Methods: We used electronic health records to retrospectively identify people infected due to COVID-19 (between March 2020 and March 2021) in the three territories of the Basque Country. COVID-19 cases were defined as individuals who had tested positive on a reverse transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and multilevel analyses with generalized estimated equations were used to determine factors associated with COVID-19-related mortality and hospital admission. Results: The COVID-19 mortality rate was increased for patients with psychotic disorders (OR adjusted: 1.45, 95% CI [1.09, 1.94], p=.0114) and patients with substance abuse (OR adjusted: 1.88, 95%CI [1.13, 3.14, p<0.0152]. The mortality rate was lower for patients with affective disorders (OR adjusted: 0.80, 95%CI [0.61, 0.99], p=0.0407). Hospital admission rates due to COVID-19 were higher in psychosis (OR adjusted: 2.90, 95%CI [2.36, 3.56], p<0·0001) and anxiety disorder groups (OR adjusted: 1.54, 95%CI [1.37, 1.72], p<0∙0001). Among admitted patients, COVID-19 mortality rate was decreased for those with affective disorders rate (OR adjusted: 0.72, 95% CI [0.55, 0.95], p=0.0194). Conclusions: COVID-19-related mortality and hospitalizations rates were higher for patients with a pre-existing psychotic disorder.