LAUSR

INTRODUCTION The Silesian Voivodeship is the region with the highest population density in Poland, three times higher than the national average. These are important circumstances that may favor the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and, due to the severe course of the disease in many patients, contribute to overloading the healthcare system. AIM The aim of the study was to evaluate the temporal and territorial variability of hospitalized morbidity and in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients treated in the study region. MATERIAL AND METHODS The research was an epidemiological descriptive study. Secondary epidemiological data were obtained from the registry of the Health Department of the Silesian Voivodeship Office in Katowice. Crude and standardized hospitalized morbidity rates, as well as COVID-19 in-hospital mortality, were calculated. Results were presented in particular poviats and subsequent months of the 2020 year. The capabilities of the ArcGIS 9.2 geographic information system and Statistica 13.3 software were used. RESULTS The largest number of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 and the number of deaths occurred in autumn and spring, in both periods in-hospital mortality was over 24%. The poviats with the highest standardized hospitalized prevalence rate were located in the southern part of the Silesian Voivodeship. The highest in-hospital mortality (exceeding 24%) was recorded in Gliwice, Mysłowice, Tychy, Bytom and in the Lubliniec poviat. Older people (65+), usually with diagnosed comorbidities, including chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, died more often. CONCLUSIONS The highest number of patients and deaths due to COVID-19 occurred in autumn. A significant territorial diversification of hospitalized morbidity and in-hospital mortality was demonstrated, the worst situation concerned densely populated poviats and cities. Worse prognosis applied to older patients with comorbidities.