2.2 Study design and population
In this retrospective cohort study, the data of 488 patients hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID 19 pneumonia in a tertiary clinic between October 1, 2020 and November 20, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed in terms of metabolic syndrome criteria. Ethical approval of the study was obtained from Umraniye Training and Research Hospital Ethics Committee dated 20.01.2021 and numbered 1. Institutional approval was taken for the usage of the patient’s data. Approval was obtained from all patients for the use of their data for the scientific article. Patients were hospitalized in the presence of at least one of the following criteria, in accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Turkey8; 1. At room air, respiratory rate is ≥ 24/min and SpO2 is ≤ 93%. 2. The presence of at least one of the following: Blood lymphocyte count of <800 / µl, serum CRP> 10 x upper limit of normal value, ferritin> 500ng / ml and D-Dimer> 1000 ng / ml, 3. Having comorbidities such as arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, kidney disease. Inclusion criteria were as follows: Being older than 18 years of age, a positive COVID 19 PCR result, and having new-onset infiltration in thorax computed tomography, compatible with COVID 19 pneumonia. SARS-CoV-2 was detected by next-generation sequencing or real-time RT-PCR method. Military patients who did not meet the hospitalization criteria and were followed up for the standard 14 days in isolation (n = 79), patients with lack of data for metabolic syndrome (n = 202) and patients whose standing waist circumference was not measured (n = 13) were excluded from the study. A total of 194 patients were included. The patients were divided into two groups as patients with and without metabolic syndrome (n=93 and 101, respectively) (Figure 1).