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Published on: September 24, 2020
Clinical Characteristics and Mortality Predictors of COVID-19 Patients Hospitalized at Nationally-Designated
Seong Su Moon1, Kwan Lee2, Jungi Park3
1Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea. drmoonss@hanmail.net.
Insights
Elderly patients (≥70 years) with fever, malignancy, or diabetes face higher COVID-19 mortality. These high-risk individuals, especially those in care facilities, require increased attention and preventive quarantine measures.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, rapidly spread globally after its initial report in China.
- A significant outbreak in South Korea, particularly in Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do, was linked to a religious group-related super-spreading event.
- This study focuses on the clinical profile of patients hospitalized in Gyeongsangbuk-do during this outbreak.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the clinical characteristics of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea.
- To analyze demographic and clinical features, including comorbidities, symptoms, and radiological/laboratory findings.
- To identify significant risk factors associated with mortality in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 352 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized between February 18th and June 30th.
- Review of medical records to extract demographic data, comorbidities, symptoms, and admission findings.
- Statistical analysis to determine risk factors for mortality.
Main Results:
- The study included 352 patients with a mean age of 56 years; the mortality rate was 6.8% (mean age at death 81 years).
- Common symptoms included cough (31.8%) and fever (28.4%); 23.0% were asymptomatic but some showed pneumonia.
- Significant mortality risk factors identified were age ≥70 years, malignancy, diabetes, and fever on admission.
Conclusions:
- Older patients (≥70 years), those with fever, malignancy, or diabetes, are at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality.
- Special attention and preventive quarantine are recommended for elderly individuals in care facilities and hospitalized patients with underlying conditions.
- Clinical vigilance for these risk factors is crucial for managing severe COVID-19 cases.
Background:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 in China, and then it has disseminated worldwide. In Korea, a religious group-related super-spreading event triggered a sudden outbreak in Daegu city and Gyeongsangbuk-do in southeast Korea. This study was undertaken to document the clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized in Gyeongsangbuk-do.
Methods:
Three hundred and fifty-two patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection hospitalized at Dongguk University Gyeongju Hospital or at the Andong Medical Center between February 18th and June 30th were enrolled in this study. Medical records were reviewed and demographic and clinical features, including comorbidities, symptoms, radiological and laboratory findings on admission were analyzed. In addition, we sought to identify risk factors of mortality.
Results:
Mean age of the 352 study subjects was 56 years (range, 14-95). The mortality rate was 6.8% and mean age at death was 81 years (range, 57-91). The most common symptom was cough (31.8%) followed by a febrile sensation (28.4%), sputum (17.0%), sore throat (15.6%), and myalgia (13.1%). Eighty-one (23.0%) patients were asymptomatic, but a half of these patients exhibited pneumonic infiltration at presentation. Chest radiology showed no active lesion in 41.8% of the study subjects, bilateral pneumonia in 46.9%, and unilateral pneumonic infiltration in 11.4%. Among 24 patients that died, 18 subjects were transferred from a care facility. An age of ≥ 70 years, previous history of malignancy or diabetes, and fever (≥ 37.5°C) on admission were found to be significant risk factors of mortality.
Conclusion:
Patients aged ≥ 70 years, those with fever on admission, and patients with an underlying malignancy or diabetes were found to be more likely to succumb to COVID-19. Elderly in care facilities or hospitalized patients with an underlying disease should receive more attention and be considered for preventive quarantine.
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