Actavia 0 Garout, Mohammed A. Jokhdar, Hani A.A. Aljahdali, Imad A. Zein, Ahmed R. Goweda, Reda A. Hassan-Hussein, Abdurahman 2018 2018-6-30 87-91 Objective: The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a novel coronavirus circulating in the Arabian Peninsula since September 2012. It leads to significant respiratory disease and among patients with co-morbidities is associated with high mortality. This research studied the mortality rate of MERS-CoV among intensive care unit (ICU) patients and the correlation of mortality with different co-morbidities. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at the Intensive Care Unit of the King Fahad Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data was obtained through patient chart review. Results: The total sample consisted of 52 laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection patients. 39 patients died, with a 75% case-fatality rate. Many patients had underlying co-morbidities, including diabetes mellitus (51.9%), hypertension (46.2%), and chronic renal disease (21.2%). Conclusions: MERS-CoV ICU mortality remains markedly high due to a combination of factors; the disease process of MERS-CoV leads to multiple organ failure, particularly respiratory and renal failure. 2 26