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University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
General hospital “Sveti apostol Luka” , Doboj , Bosnia and Herzegovina
University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
University Clinical Centre of Republic of Srpska , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
General hospital “Sveti apostol Luka” , Doboj , Bosnia and Herzegovina
University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
University Clinical Centre of Republic of Srpska , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
University Clinical Centre of Republic of Srpska , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
University of Banja Luka , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
University Clinical Centre of Republic of Srpska , Banja Luka , Bosnia and Herzegovina
Introduction. Infection caused by the novel coronavirus (SARSCoV-2) emerged in 2019 in China and rapidly spread worldwide. This highly contagious virus is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets and may lead to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. This study analyzed patients hospitalized at the University Clinical Center of Re
public of Srpska (UCC RS) during the first 12 months of the pandemic.
Methods. Data from all patients with laboratory-confirmed SARSCoV-2 infection, diagnosed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), were collected between March 2020 and March 2021. Patients were analyzed according to age, sex, severity of clinical presentation, duration of hospitalization, and the outcome.
Results. One year after the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Republic of Srpska, a total of 5,956 COVID-19–positive patients were hospitalized, including 3,662 males and 2,294 females. The mean duration of hospitalization was nine days, with a statistically significant difference across clinics (p = 0.001). Patients older than 60 years represented the most prevalent age group. During the observed period, 84.53% of patients recovered, while 15.47% died. Cardiovascular diseases were the most common comorbidities, presented in 24.71% of patients.
Conclusion. Male patients were more frequently hospitalized than females, with statistically significant sex differences observed only at the Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Clinic (p < 0.05). Patients older than 60 years were more susceptible to severe complications and fatal outcomes, with a predominance of male sex.
Conceptualization, N.J., G.B., U.K. and A.V.; Data curation, N.J.; Investigation, N.J., G.B. and U.K.; Methodology, N.J.; Project administration, N.J. and Z.M.; Software, N.J.; Writing – original draft, N.J.; Formal Analysis, G.B. and U.K.; Supervision, G.B., U.K., A.V., S.Z. and Z.M.; Validation, G.B., U.K., A.V., S.Z. and Z.M.; Visualization, G.B. and Z.M.; Writing – review & editing, G.B. and A.V.; Funding acquisition, S.Z. and Z.M.; Resources, S.Z. and Z.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
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