Clinical Characteristics Of COVID-19 Patients Research Articles

Increased Risk and Unique Clinical Course of Patient Safety Indicator-3 Pressure Injuries Among COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique challenges to healthcare systems, particularly in relation to patient safety and adverse events during hospitalization. There is limited understanding of COVID-19's association with some patient safety indicators (PSIs). This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on the rate of PSI-3 events and its implications on quality metrics. We compared PSI-3 event rates between COVID-19-infected and uninfected patients and examined the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients experiencing PSI-3 events. This is a retrospective study at Mayo Clinic hospitals between January 2020 and February 2022, analyzing patients meeting PSI-3 denominator eligibility criteria. PSI-3 events were identified using AHRQ WinQI software. Patients were categorized based on COVID-19 status. Patient demographics, characteristics, and PSI-3 rates were compared. A case series analysis described clinical details of COVID-19 patients with PSI-3 events. Of 126,781 encounters meeting PSI-3 criteria, 8674 (6.8%) had acute COVID-19 infection. COVID-19-infected patients were older, more likely to be male, non-white, and had private insurance. PSI-3 rates were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients (0.21% versus 0.06%, P < 0.0001), even after risk adjustment (adjusted risk ratio, 3.24, P < 0.0001). The case series of 17 COVID-19 patients with PSI-3 events showed distinctive clinical characteristics, including higher medical device-related pressure injuries, and greater predisposition for head, face, and neck region. Acute COVID-19 infection correlates with higher PSI-3 event rates. Current quality indicators may require adaptation to address the pandemic's complexities and impact on patient safety. Further research is needed to comprehensively understand the intricate relationship between COVID-19 and patient outcomes.

HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1 seroprevalence and its relationship with the clinical features of COVID-19 patients from Villavicencio, Colombia

Due to the cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and common human coronaviruses, previous infections with these viruses could contribute to serological or cellular cross-protection against severe COVID-19. However, protective immunity may not develop, or pre-existing immunity could increase COVID-19 severity. To determine the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1 and correlate previous exposure with COVID-19 signs in patients from Villavicencio. A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted. ELISA technique was used to search for IgG antibodies against HCoV-NL3 and HCoV-HKU1 in patients with positive RT-qPCR results for SARS-CoV-2. Patients were grouped according to COVID-19 clinical characteristics in four groups: group 1: asymptomatic (n = 23); group 2: hospitalized (n = 24); group 3: intensive care units (n = 24), and group 4: dead (n = 22). The overall seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against HCoV was 74.2% (n = 69; 95% CI: 65.3-83.1), with 66.7% of HCoV-NL63 (n = 62; 95% CI: 57,1-76,2), and 25.8% of HCoV-HKU1 (n = 24; 95% CI: 16,9-34,7). Based on crosstab analysis, prior exposure to HCoV-NL63 was associated with protection against severe COVID-19 (p = 0.042; adjusted OR = 0.159; 95% CI: 0.027-0.938), and previous coinfection of HCoV-NL63 and HCoVHKU1 was considered a positive association to severe COVID-19 (p = 0.048; adjusted OR = 16.704; 95% CI: 1.020 - 273.670). To our knowledge, this is the first study addressing seroprevalence of HCoV IgG antibodies in Colombia and Latin America. Previous exposure to HCoV-NL63 could protect against severe COVID-19, whereas patients with underlying HCoV-NL63 and HCoVHKU1 coinfection could be hospitalized with severe signs of COVID-19.

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with Mucormycosis

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with Mucormycosis

Assessment of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit of Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, 2020

Background: Different types of coronaviruses, such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and COVID-19, cause different symptoms in individuals based on their clinical and demographic signatures, leading to either alleviation or exaggeration of the disease according to patients’ characteristics. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Afzalipur hospital of Kerman. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study in which we reviewed the medical files of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU of Afzalipur hospital, Kerman City, in 2019. Results: Out of a total of 143 COVID-19 patients, 87 (60.8%) were men, and the mean±standard deviation of the age of the patients was 56.9±22.7 years. The most common symptoms were dyspnea (81.1% n=116), fatigue (53.8%, n=77), and dry cough (44.8%, n=64). Lacrimation and pleuritic pain were observed in 3.5% (n=5) of the patients. Conclusion: Dyspnea and fatigue were the most common symptoms in COVID-19 patients at the beginning of the pandemic. Also, due to the relatively high mortality rate in our patients compared to other studies, there is a need for appropriate planning to cope with similar situations in the future.

Telehealth-Based Information Retrieval and Extraction for Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Symptom Patterns in Mild COVID-19 Patients

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients have been mostly described in hospitalised patients, yet most are managed in an outpatient setting. The COVID-19 pandemic transformed healthcare delivery models and accelerated the implementation and adoption of telemedicine solutions. We employed a modular remote monitoring system with multi-modal data collection, aggregation, and analytics features to monitor mild COVID-19 patients and report their characteristics and symptoms. At enrolment, the patients were equipped with wearables, which were associated with their accounts, provided the respective in-system consents, and, in parallel, reported the demographics and patient characteristics. The patients monitored their vitals and symptoms daily during a 14-day monitoring period. Vital signs were entered either manually or automatically through wearables. We enrolled 162 patients from February to May 2022. The median age was 51 (42–60) years; 44% were male, 22% had at least one comorbidity, and 73.5% were fully vaccinated. The vitals of the patients were within normal range throughout the monitoring period. Thirteen patients were asymptomatic, while the rest had at least one symptom for a median of 11 (7–16) days. Fatigue was the most common symptom, followed by fever and cough. Loss of taste and smell was the longest-lasting symptom. Age positively correlated with the duration of fatigue, anorexia, and low-grade fever. Comorbidities, the number of administered doses, the days since the last dose, and the days since the positive test did not seem to affect the number of sick days or symptomatology. The i-COVID platform allowed us to provide remote monitoring and reporting of COVID-19 outpatients. We were able to report their clinical characteristics while simultaneously helping reduce the spread of the virus through hospitals by minimising hospital visits. The monitoring platform also offered advanced knowledge extraction and analytic capabilities to detect health condition deterioration and automatically trigger personalised support workflows.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for bacterial co-infections in COVID-19 patients: A retrospective study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyse the bacterial composition, distribution, drug sensitivity, and clinical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who develop bacterial co-infections. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 184 patients with COVID-19 admitted between December 2022 and January 2023. Data on gender, age, length of hospital stay, pneumonia classification, underlying diseases, invasive surgery, hormone therapy, inflammation indicators, and other relevant information were collected. Samples of sputum, bronchoscopy sputum, alveolar lavage fluid, middle urine, puncture fluid, wound secretions, and blood were collected for pathogen isolation, identification, and drug sensitivity testing. ResultsThe majority of patients with COVID-19 with bacterial co-infection were elderly and had underlying diseases. Invasive surgery and hormone therapy were identified as risk factors for co-infections. Laboratory analysis showed reduced lymphocyte counts and elevated levels of C-reactive protein and procalcitonin. The most common pathogens in co-infections were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The detection rate of drug-resistant strains, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus, carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae, carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii, carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant E. coli, increased with the severity of pneumonia. ConclusionRespiratory tract infections were the most common site of bacterial co-infection in patients with COVID-19. Severe cases were more susceptible to multidrug-resistant pathogens, leading to a higher mortality rate. Timely control and prevention of co-infection are crucial for improving the prognosis of patients with COVID-19.

Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients and Risk Factors for Shortness of Breath: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Background: Exploring the clinical characteristics, and risk factors for severe complications among COVID-19-positive patients has been helpful in identifying the most vulnerable communities to which public healthpractitioners should pay special attention. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients, and risk factors for shortness of breath among COVID-19-positive patients in Chattogram, Bangladesh.Materials and Methods: Data were collected using a structured and facilitator-administered questionnaire among the COVID-19-positive patients (N = 408). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the predictors of outcome variables. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24.0.Results: It was revealed that at least one comorbidity was found among about half of the study participants,while the most prevalent symptoms of COVID-19 patients consisted of fever, cough, loss of taste, loss of smell, fatigue, and sore pain. In addition, Azithromycin is a more common treatment in our country. The multivariate logistic regression displays the COVID-19 patients aged more than 50 years (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.13-3.71) and respondents with cardiovascular disease (AOR = 4.60, 95% CI: 1.51-8.58) and the second wave of the coronapandemic (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.06-2.99) were reported as a risk factor for having shortness of breath among the virus-infected people.Conclusion: The findings explored an empirical and practical basis for exploring the risk factors for severecomplications of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, evidence from this study might play a key role in providingpolicymakers with research-based evidence in their continuous effort to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unravelling the connection between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease: a comprehensive review.

Currently, there exists a limited comprehension regarding the correlation between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease (AD). To elucidate the interrelationship and its impact on outcomes, a comprehensive investigation was carried out utilising time-unrestricted searches of reputable databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of various medical conditions on severe COVID-19-related events. We focused on identifying and analysing articles that discussed the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients, particularly those pertaining to severe events such as ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, pneumonia, mortality and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) a serious lung condition that causes low blood oxygen. Through careful data analysis and information gathering, we tried to figure out how likely it was that people with conditions, like AD, would have serious events. Our research investigated potential mechanisms that link AD and COVID-19. The ability of the virus to directly invade the central nervous system and the role of ACE-2 receptors were investigated. Furthermore, the OAS1 gene served as the genetic link between AD and COVID-19. In the context of COVID-19, our findings suggest that individuals with AD may be more susceptible to experiencing severe outcomes. Consequently, it is crucial to provide personalised care and management for this demographic. Further investigation is required to attain a comprehensive comprehension of the intricate correlation between Alzheimer's disease and COVID-19, as well as its ramifications for patient outcomes.

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in ABO blood groups

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in ABO blood groups

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients treated in emergency COVID-19 hospitals in Vietnam: Experience from Phutho province, Vietnam.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, patient's management approaches, and outcomes of the COVID-19 patients in Phu Tho Province, Vietnam. Methods: A retrospective, multicenter study of 2166 COVID-19 patients in 13 hospitals in Phutho Province, Vietnam. The subjects were divided into 3 groups based on vaccination status: unvaccinated group, 1st dose of vaccine group, 2nd dose of vaccine group. The clinical characteristics, management approaches, and outcomes were collected and compared between the 3 groups. Results: The hospitalization rate of the 3 groups decreased from the unvaccinated group, the 1st dose of vaccinated group, to the 2nd dose of vaccinated group, 42.61%; 30,24% and 27,15% respectively. The 19-40 years old group had the highest hospitalization rate (38,1%) together with the group that had not accepted the full COVID 19 vaccination dose (57,64%). The 2nd dose of vaccinated group had the lowest percentages of high temperature, cough, dyspnea, chest pain and sore throat. The unvaccinated group had the highest heart rate, respiratory rate and SpO2 compared to the two other groups. The percentage needing Immunomodulation and Anticoagulant Therapy was highest (6.8% and 1.4 % respectively) in the unvaccinated group. The percentage receiving Antiviral Therapy was highest (42,5%) in those who had received the 2nd dose of vaccine. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination improved the symptoms of the patients and should be accepted in all ages.

Zinc deficiency effect on clinical features of Coronavirus Disease 2019 patients: A scoping review

COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020. Various therapeutic guidelines have been established for treating COVID-19, such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral therapies, and zinc supplementation. Zinc deficiency is thought to worsen the condition of patients with COVID-19 infection. However, the effect of zinc deficiency on COVID-19 patients has not been widely reported. In this scoping review, we aim to explore the impact of zinc deficiency on the clinical features of COVID-19 patients. A comprehensive search was conducted across the databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer Link, ProQuest, and Google Scholar, using the keywords “Zinc” AND “(COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2)”. A total of 2,458 articles published between 2019 and 2020 were screened following the PRISMA guidelines and subjected to critical appraisal. Three articles were included, focusing on the effect of zinc deficiency on the clinical features of COVID-19 patients. As of 2022, two articles reported worsening symptoms, one described an increased hospitalization duration, and one reported worsening treatment outcomes in the zinc deficiency group. This review concludes that zinc deficiency worsens symptoms, increases the duration of hospitalization, and leads to worse outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Demography and Clinical Characteristic COVID-19 with Diabetes Mellitus at the Universitas Sumatera Utara Hospital

Background: COVID-19 is a disease caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 can infect almost all age groups, however, the elderly and those with co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus can get worse complications from COVID-19. The study aims to find out the demographics and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with diabetes mellitus treated at the Universitas Sumatera Utara Hospital. Method. This research is a descriptive study using retrospective data. The data used is secondary data taken from medical records. The number of samples that met the inclusion criteria was 37 people. Results. The majority of patients were dominated by the age group of 46-65 years (56.8%) and males (54.1%). The predominating clinical characteristics of COVID-19 with diabetes mellitus are cough (70.3%), shortness of breath (59.5%), and fever 51.4%. There was an increase in the laboratory results of COVID-19 patients with diabetes mellitus on blood sugar levels at admission, HbA1c, urea, creatinine, SGOT, SGPT, and d-dimer levels. The most treatment results were recovered by as many as 24 people (64.9%). Conclusion. The majority of patients are in the age group of 46-65 years and are male. The most common clinical characteristic is cough and there is an increase in laboratory results in patients

Characteristic Features of Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients in Al-Dejail Hospital Region

Background: Covid-19 has been one of the affected countries during the pandemic from February 2020. The majority of published research have shown the demographic and clinical features of Covid-19 patients in various parts of Iraq, but not in Al-Dejail district, Salah AldenGovernorate. The baseline and clinical features of hospitalized COVID-19 patients hospitalized are described below.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in ِ Al-Dejail Emergency and Maternity Hospital from February 2020 until July 2020. Review of 100 admitted patients to the emergency unit was done and, the demographic and clinical manifestations was reported in patients with COVID-19 infection. The patients in this study were split into two groups: mild to moderate cases (percent) and severe to critically sick cases (78 percent). In accordance, a comparative analysis of all reported characteristics is performed.Results: The patients' mean age was 52.25±13.9 years, with 46-55 years being the most frequent age group. In terms of gender, smoking, or job, there was no statistically significant difference between the mild-moderate and seriously to critically ill groups (p &gt; 0.05). Fever (84 percent), cough (82 percent), dyspnea (88 percent), and GIT symptoms were the most prevalent symptoms among the hospitalized patients. Except for obesity, diabetes, and CT results, there were no significant changes in clinical characteristics, co morbidities, or clinical outcomes between moderate and severe patients.Conclusions: The majority of COVID-19 patients were symptomatic and were older than previous reports ranges between 46 and 55 years. Obesity and diabetes mellitus were discovered to be strongly associated to the progression and severity of illness

Clinical Characteristics of Hemodialysis Patients with COVID-19 Referred to Hemodialysis Centers Affiliated with the Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences Between 2020 and 2021

Background: The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) seriously threatens the health and life of people with underlying diseases, such as patients undergoing hemodialysis. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis referring to hemodialysis centers affiliated with the Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences between 2019 and 2021. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive-analytical study with a sample size of 144 hemodialysis patients with COVID-19. The data were collected by a demographic questionnaire, a checklist based on the presence of underlying diseases, the cause of the kidney failure, drugs received during hemodialysis, medications used for COVID, the result of COVID-19 treatment, and outpatient or inpatient treatment, and the checklist of laboratory indices extracted from the patient’s medical records. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 and descriptive and analytical statistical tests. Results: The average age was 57.2 ± 14.42 years, and 64.6% were men, 35.4% were women, 64.6% recovered, and 35.4% died, although 42.4% of patients were treated on an outpatient basis, and 57.6% needed hospitalization. Also, 93.7% of patients were vaccinated. The average duration of hemodialysis treatment was 6.44 years, and diabetes accounted for 31.1% of the causes of kidney failure, and these people had a higher chance of mortality. Positive c-reactive protein (CRP) results were found in 72.2% of patients, and 54.2% had a positive erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). In addition, 22.2% of patients used mechanical ventilation, and 88.2% had positive PCR results. Iron, ferritin, albumin, and hemoglobin index were lower than normal in all patients. Patients with positive hepatitis B antigens were treated with sofosbuvir. In outpatient treatment, 65.6% used remdesivir, and 70.5% used dexamethasone. Regarding inpatient treatment, 75.9% used methylprednisolone, 56.6% used tocilizumab, and 54.2% used pirfenidone. Conclusions: The rate of death and hospitalization in hemodialysis patients with COVID-19 was higher than that of normal people. Diabetes increases the chance of morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 in hemodialysis patients. The reduction of hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, and albumin weakened the therapeutic response of hemodialysis patients to COVID-19 and increased the chance of death. Although various drugs were used in the treatment of COVID-19 hemodialysis patients, the patients did not follow a single regimen.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in the least developed province Balochistan of Pakistan – an observational descriptive study

This study was designed to determine the epidemiological and clinical attributes of COVID-19 patients in the least developed province of Balochistan, Pakistan. The information was obtained from the daily situation report by the Health Department, Government of Balochistan, Pakistan. We investigated the reports of 4177 patients confirmed by RT-PCR tests. Demographic, epidemiological and risk factors data along with comorbidities and clinical signs were recorded. Out of 4500 suspected cases, 4177 cases were directed for the confirmation of COVID-19. A sum of 2177 patients was confirmed to have COVID-19 and 2000 individuals tested negative for the illness. Out of 4177 patients, 2000 patients recovered but 177 patients died because of COVID-19. In current statistics, most males were affected by COVID-19 as 3243 (77.69%) were males and 934 (22.36%) were females. A total of 90.81% of individuals had fever, 88.97% had a cough, 81% had body throbs, and 89.66% had a sore throat. Shortness of breath was observed in 97.06% and 44.09 % had comorbidity. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the outcome of patients was associated with gender and symptoms. The district Quetta had the maximum number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. COVID-19 cases and case casualty proportion are low in Balochistan. Whether this is because of failure to do more tests is still to be discovered. Males and individuals of older age are more impacted, and fatalities were higher in cases with co-morbid conditions. Balochistan has a feeble medical care framework and many asymptomatic cases, and needs more rigid screening activities.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 patients in Malaysia during the first wave: A multi-center observational study (COVIDICU-MY).

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged with a wide range of clinical presentations; Malaysia was not spared from its impact. This study describes the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care unit, their clinical course, management, and hospital outcomes. COVIDICU-MY is a retrospective analysis of COVID-19 patients from 19 intensive care units (ICU) across Malaysia from 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2020. We collected epidemiological history, demographics, clinical comorbidities, laboratory investigations, respiratory and hemodynamic values, management, length of stay and survival status. We compared these variables between survival and non-survival groups. A total of 170 critically ill patients were included, with 77% above 50 years of age [median age 60, IQR (51-66)] and 75.3% male. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, chronic cardiac disease, and chronic kidney disease were most common among patients. A high Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II score [median 45, IQR (34-49)] and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score [median 8, IQR (6-11)] were associated with mortality. Patients were profoundly hypoxic with a median lowest PaO2/FiO2 ratio of 150 (IQR 99-220) at admission. 91 patients (53.5%) required intubation on their first day of admission, out of which 38 died (73.1% of the hospital non-survivors). Our sample had more patients with moderate Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), 58 patients (43.9%), compared to severe ARDS, 33 patients (25%); with both ARDS classification groups contributing to 25 patients (54.4%) and 11 patients (23.9%) of the non-survival group, respectively. Cumulative fluid balance over 24 h was higher in the non-survival group with significant differences on Day 3 (1,953 vs. 622 ml, p < 0.05) and Day 7 of ICU (3,485 vs. 830 ml, p < 0.05). Patients with high serum creatinine, urea, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and d-dimer, and low lymphocyte count throughout the stay also had a higher risk of mortality. The hospital mortality rate was 30.6% in our sample. We report high mortality amongst critically ill patients in intensive care units in Malaysia, at 30.6%, during the March to May 2020 period. High admission SAPS II and SOFA, and severe hypoxemia and high cumulative fluid balance were associated with mortality. Higher creatinine, urea, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and d-dimer, and lymphopenia were observed in the non-survival group.

A Cross-sectional Study of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with Diabetic in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India

A Cross-sectional Study of Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients with Diabetic in a Tertiary Care Hospital of North India

Risk factors of intensive care admission and mortality in a cohort of 111 Egyptian COVID-19 patients

ABSTRACT Background It is important to understand and identify the different clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in order to better understand the disease process and determine the various factors associated with poor prognosis and mortality. Methods Data from 111 COVID-19 patients were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The demographics, comorbidities, and laboratory test results of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were compared with those admitted to the ward. Additionally, data obtained from patients who were discharged after treatment were compared with those who died at the hospital. Results Patients admitted to the ICU were older and presented with significantly higher levels of ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IL-6, c-reactive protein, and procalcitonin than those admitted to the ward. IL-6 level was an independent predictor of ICU admission. Likewise, the non-survivors were significantly older and had higher levels of LDH, d-dimer, IL-6, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and procalcitonin, and a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease than those who were discharged from the hospital; increased age and high BUN levels were the independent predictors of mortality. Conclusion This study identified high IL-6 level as a predictor of ICU admission and older age and high BUN levels as predictors of mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Clinical Features of COVID-19 Patients at Udayana University Hospital During First Three Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 exhibits a wide variety of symptoms, ranging from mild, moderate, severe, and critical respiratory dysfunctions up to death. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the demographic, clinical, and laboratory profile of COVID-19 patients admitted to Udayana University Hospital, Bali, during the first three months of the pandemic. Data were collected from the electronic medical records of 236 patients hospitalized from April to June 2020. The samples had a mean age of 40 years old, and they consisted of 58.50% male. Based on the records, the common clinical characteristics included fever (52.5%) and cough (47.5%), followed by less common traits, such as sore throat (18.2%), dyspnea (10.2%), flu (8.9%), and headache (3.8%). Laboratory results during admission showed an average lymphocyte count of 2.16 ± 2.19 × 109 cells/L and a neutrophil- lymphocyte ratio of 3.02 ± 3.41. The majority of patients were private corporation employees (30.51%), followed by migrant workers (21.19%). Furthermore, a fatality rate of 1.69% was recorded in the study hospital. These results were expected to provide epidemiological knowledge of COVID-19 patients, which can help clinicians to anticipate possible outcomes during treatment.

The Different Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients Between Pediatric and Adults

Background: In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) emerged in Wuhan, China. Objectives: The current research aimed to evaluate the clinical features of COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients and compare them with those of adult patients in Sanandaj, Iran. Methods: Retrospectively, 56 hospitalized cases, including 32 adult and 24 pediatric patients with COVID-19 from March 7th, 2020, to June 5th, 2020, were enrolled in this study. The clinical and laboratory findings of the pediatric patients with COVID-19 infection were analyzed and compared with those of the adult patients. Results: The average number of fever days in adults was higher than that of pediatric patients (P = 0.04). Cough was more severe in adults than in pediatric patients (P = 0.03). Diarrhea was not statistically different between the two groups. Dizziness was far more common in adults than pediatric patients (P = 0.01). The percentage of blood oxygen saturation decreased in both groups, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. C-reactive protein (CRP) was positive in many patients in both groups; however, there was no difference between the pediatric and adult patients. Lymphopenia was significantly higher in adults than in pediatric patients (P = 0.02). As in pediatric patients, an increase in liver enzymes was seen in adults. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: The present study showed that pediatric patients with COVID-19 infection have milder clinical symptoms than adults. However, according to the laboratory findings, pediatric patients need to be followed up as well as adult patients.