Background: COVID 19 is viral disease affecting more than 688 million cases and 6.8 million fatalities as a pandemic, which had a terrible impact on the world. WHO estimates that 80% of infections are asymptomatic or mild, 15% are severe infections requiring oxygen assistance, and 5% are critical infections requiring ventilation. Understanding the related factors and categorizing COVID-19 patients according to their severity are therefore crucial for care and follow-up. However, there is only a little research in Ethiopia and no data indicating the severity of COVID-19 in MKCSH. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to ascertain the overall COVID-19 severity level and associated factors at MKCSH.

Objective: To determine severity and its associated factor among patients age greater than 18years old admitted with Covid 19 in Mattu Karl Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Oromia, Ethiopia.

Method: A facility based retrospective cross sectional study was conducted from May 15, 2023 to Aug 15, 2023 and one-year data was retrieved from May 2021 up to May 2020. A simple random sampling technique was employed to include a total of 404 sample populations in the study. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect relevant raw data. Finally the raw data was checked manually for completeness, then coded and the template was prepared and entered into Epi-data V.3.1 statistical software and cleaned thoroughly after exported to SPSS version 23 for further analysis. The descriptive statistics was calculated & ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to see the relation between dependent variable and independent variables. The association was assessed by using the Chi-Square statistical test method (X2–test) and P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The assumption of model fitness, parallel tastes was fulfilled and Multicollinearity was checked.

Result: 86.8%, 9.5%, and 3.8% of the 404 patients who are quarantine at the facility were mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. Live in urban is the common significant factors. Fever, Coughing and headaches were the most typical signs and symptoms linked to the disease's severity. The most frequent co-morbidity was hypertension.

Conclusion: Live in rural (p value= 0.000, OR= 0.17,95% CI: 0.07-.042), having comorbidity condition like hypertension (p value = 0.000, OR=10.87, 95% CI:4.34-27.21), cough (p value=0.002, OR=4.44, 95 % CI:1.75-11.26) and headache (p value= 0.002, OR=4.42, 95% CI=1.70-11.48) were major factors associated for severity COVID-19 in Ethiopia.  

Lijalem Kassa Yehuale is a healthcare professional associated with Gambella General Hospital in Ethiopia. With expertise in the medical field, he contributes to healthcare delivery in the Gambella region. His role at the hospital is pivotal in providing essential medical services to the local community.