Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Buenos Aires city

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a global health challenge and continues to be investigated.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, demographic, clinical characteristics and all-cause mortality of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, in a private health care facility in Buenos Aires city.

Materials and methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, and descriptive study was conducted between March 3 and July 8, 2020. Adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 by nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR, admitted to the general ward and intensive care unit (ICU) at the San José Sanatorium were included. Epidemiological, demographic (age, sex, occupation, origin, residence), clinical characteristics, and all-cause mortality were analyzed. Continuous variables were described with median and interquartile range (IQR) and categorical variables with number and percentage. The STATA v 13.0 program was used.

Results: 118 patients were included. The median age was 50 years, 51% were men. The most prevalent comorbidities: arterial hypertension 31.4%, chronic neurological disease 27.1%, cardiovascular disease 14.4% and diabetes 13.6%. The most frequent signs and symptoms: fever 68.6% and cough 51.7%. According to the initial severity: 33.9% moderate pneumonia and 27.1% severe. Ground glass was reported in 75% of chest scans; lymphopenia presented 30%. Viral coinfection was not detected. Mortality from all causes was 20%, and 57% in ICU with mechanical ventilation.

Conclusions: Our work describes the characteristics and mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Increased evidence is needed to develop clinical predictive models related to COVID-19.