Influence of atherosclerotic diseases on hospital mortality in Bosnia and Herzegovina – one center experience

Background and Aims: To analyze impact of atherosclerotic diseases on mortality in Department for Internal Diseases in Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Mortality data were collected from hospital medical information system in period January 2018 - June 2020. Followed parameters were: age, sex, leading diagnosis, length of hospital stay. Results: During this period there were 780 intrahospital deaths in Department for Internal Diseases, 422(54%) men and 358(46%) women.Most deaths were recorded in age groups >60 years,as follows:in group 60-69y/o 190 deaths(24,4%), 70-79y/o 266 deaths(34.1%), 80-89y/o 226(29%).There were 14 deaths(1,8%)in age group >90y/o and 16 deaths(2,1%)in younger than 50y/o. Mean duration of hospitalization was 5.09 days,with maximum 47 days in one case and minimum 1 day in 221 cases(28,5%).Leading diagnosis were atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in 346cases(44,5%), followed with malignancy in 117 cases (15%),renal failure in 75 cases(9,7%),gastrointestinal diseases in 73(9,5%), respiratory diseases in 69 cases(8,9%),sepsis in 30(3,9%) cases, autoimmune diseases in 7(0,9%) cases, unknown etiology in 59(7,6%) cases. During the last 3 months of study (March-June 2020) was beginning of COVID-19 pandemia in our country. It was period of strict lockdown during which was no death cases caused by COVID-19 in our hospital. Conclusions: The leading cause of intrahospital mortality were cardiovascular diseases, almost three times more than malignancy. Although our patients live in industrial area with air pollution, percentage of respiratory deaths was surprisingly low comparing with atherosclerotic causes. Atherosclerosis remains leading cause of death in our hospital and we should expand our efforts in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.