English

Abstract

BACKGROUND The clinical spectrum of SARS–CoV-2 infection encompasses asymptomatic infection, mild upper respiratory tract infection, and severe viral pneumonia with respiratory failure and even death. This study attempts to estimate the time interval between symptoms onset to severity, time taken for hospitalization, length of stay in hospital along with demographic and clinical characteristics of deceased patients infected with Covid-19. METHODS This retrospective study was conducted in SSMC associated Dedicated Covid Hospital, Rewa district, India. Covid-19 positive deaths (112) that occurred from May 2020 to January 2021 in this institute were considered for this study. Information regarding socio-demographic profile, systemic diseases / underlying medical conditions, signs and symptoms of the disease, clinical course, and investigations were collected and analysed. Time duration variables included were time from the initial symptom to breathlessness, time taken to seek treatment, delay in hospitalization, and length of stay in the hospital. RESULTS Elderly males with 2 or more comorbid conditions were found to be at higher risk of mortality. Median duration from onset of initial symptom to treatment seeking / hospitalization in DCH was 5 days. While mean duration from onset of initial symptoms to onset of breathlessness was 2 days 6 hrs. There was a delay of 3 days in hospitalization after experiencing breathlessness. 90 % patients had bilateral lung involvement at the time of admission. More than half of the patients had multiple organ involvement. Positive correlation was observed in delay in hospitalization, with syndrome severity at the time of admission and negative correlation with length of stay in hospital. CONCLUSIONS Delay in hospitalization is observed as an important factor which affects clinical course. Disease severity increases and length of stay decreases with delayed presentation at the time of admission. It should be addressed with awareness generation activities in community and self-assessment tool appropriate and suitable for implementing in general population. KEYWORDS Covid 19, Covid Infection, Mortality, Time Delay, Length of Stay (LoS)