Background Identifying risk factors for severe novel-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is useful to ascertain which patients may benefit from advanced supportive care. The study aims to offer a comparative description of the COVID-19 patients, admitted to a general ward for a non-critical clinical picture, who required or not to be transferred to the intensive (ICU) and/or sub-intensive care (SICU) units.
Methods This observational retrospective study included all COVID-19 patients admitted to the Infectious Diseases Unit. Clinical, laboratory, radiological and treatment data were collected. The primary outcome was a composite of need of transfer to the ICU and/or SICU during the hospitalization. Patients who did not require to be transferred are defined Group 1; patients who were transferred to the ICU and/or SICU are defined Group 2. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups.
Results 303 patients were included. Median age was 62 years. 69 patients (22,8%) met the primary outcome and were defined Group 2. The overall mortality rate was 6.8%. Group 2 were more likely to be men, had a higher mortality (14,5% vs. 3,8%, p<0,01), had more hypertension (72,4% vs. 44%, p<0,01) and diabetes (31,9% vs. 21%, p=0,04) and were more likely to present dry cough (49,3% vs. 25,2%, p<0.01). Overall, chest X-ray at admission showed findings suggestive of pneumonia in 63,2%, and Group 2 were more likely to develop pathological findings during the hospitalization (72,7%vs. 17,2%, p<0,01). At admission, Group 2 presented significantly higher neutrophil count, aspartate-transaminase and C-reactive-protein. At the 3rd measurement, Group 2 presented persistently higher neutrophil count, liver function tests and C-reactive-protein. Group 1 presented a shorter duration from admission to negativization of follow-up swabs (20 vs. 35 days, p<0,01).
Conclusions The presence of comorbidities and the persistent observation of abnormal laboratory findings should be regarded as predisposing factors for clinical worsening.
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On 19 Nov, 2020
On 18 Nov, 2020
Posted 13 Oct, 2020
On 28 Oct, 2020
Received 23 Oct, 2020
On 09 Oct, 2020
Received 03 Oct, 2020
Invitations sent on 02 Oct, 2020
On 02 Oct, 2020
On 01 Oct, 2020
On 30 Sep, 2020
On 30 Sep, 2020
On 07 Sep, 2020
Received 03 Sep, 2020
Received 26 Aug, 2020
On 17 Aug, 2020
On 30 Jul, 2020
Invitations sent on 26 Jul, 2020
On 03 Jul, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
On 19 Nov, 2020
On 18 Nov, 2020
Posted 13 Oct, 2020
On 28 Oct, 2020
Received 23 Oct, 2020
On 09 Oct, 2020
Received 03 Oct, 2020
Invitations sent on 02 Oct, 2020
On 02 Oct, 2020
On 01 Oct, 2020
On 30 Sep, 2020
On 30 Sep, 2020
On 07 Sep, 2020
Received 03 Sep, 2020
Received 26 Aug, 2020
On 17 Aug, 2020
On 30 Jul, 2020
Invitations sent on 26 Jul, 2020
On 03 Jul, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
Background Identifying risk factors for severe novel-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is useful to ascertain which patients may benefit from advanced supportive care. The study aims to offer a comparative description of the COVID-19 patients, admitted to a general ward for a non-critical clinical picture, who required or not to be transferred to the intensive (ICU) and/or sub-intensive care (SICU) units.
Methods This observational retrospective study included all COVID-19 patients admitted to the Infectious Diseases Unit. Clinical, laboratory, radiological and treatment data were collected. The primary outcome was a composite of need of transfer to the ICU and/or SICU during the hospitalization. Patients who did not require to be transferred are defined Group 1; patients who were transferred to the ICU and/or SICU are defined Group 2. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups.
Results 303 patients were included. Median age was 62 years. 69 patients (22,8%) met the primary outcome and were defined Group 2. The overall mortality rate was 6.8%. Group 2 were more likely to be men, had a higher mortality (14,5% vs. 3,8%, p<0,01), had more hypertension (72,4% vs. 44%, p<0,01) and diabetes (31,9% vs. 21%, p=0,04) and were more likely to present dry cough (49,3% vs. 25,2%, p<0.01). Overall, chest X-ray at admission showed findings suggestive of pneumonia in 63,2%, and Group 2 were more likely to develop pathological findings during the hospitalization (72,7%vs. 17,2%, p<0,01). At admission, Group 2 presented significantly higher neutrophil count, aspartate-transaminase and C-reactive-protein. At the 3rd measurement, Group 2 presented persistently higher neutrophil count, liver function tests and C-reactive-protein. Group 1 presented a shorter duration from admission to negativization of follow-up swabs (20 vs. 35 days, p<0,01).
Conclusions The presence of comorbidities and the persistent observation of abnormal laboratory findings should be regarded as predisposing factors for clinical worsening.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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