A study to compare the socio demographic profile and causes of death between wave 1 and wave 2 of COVID 19 deaths at NRS Medical College, Kolkata

The COVID 19 pandemic has spread across the globe since December 2019. Its surge in three phases in India has been phenomenal. Mortality was more in the first and second waves. The present study is a descriptive study with an attempt to identify the mortality data in the 2 waves (W) - W1 extending from April 2020 to February 2021 and W2 from March 2021 to June 2021 at NRS Medical College, Kolkata. All SARS-CoV-2 positive cases that died in the hospital after admission or were brought dead at the hospital during the defined period were included in the study. Mortality among males was more than females in both the waves. In W1, individuals in the age group of 61-70 years were the most vulnerable whereas in W2 it was 51-60 years. However the cumulative mortality in the age group of 41-60 years increased from 33.7% in W1 to 41.8% in W2. The 4 to 14 days survival period after hospital admission increased from 34.3% in the first wave to 43.3% in the subsequent wave. Severe Acute Respiratory Infection was documented as the commonest cause of death in W1 and Pneumonia in W2. Nearly 60% of the deceased of W1 and 46.7% in W2 had comorbidities. Diabetes and hypertension were found to be the commonest comorbidities associated with fatality.