Clinical Profile and Demographic Features of COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Pakistan

Background and Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing health challenge for both developed and developing countries worldwide. The epidemiological and clinical features of COVID-19 should be analyzed in our country. The current study aims to evaluate the demographic features and clinical profile of COVID-19 patients ina Tertiary Care Hospital of Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 85 patients with positive real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) verified by nasopharyngeal swabs and throat at Covid 19 setup in Sheikh Zayed Hopsital, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan for period of six months i.e from September 2020 to February 2021. Institutional consensus protocol and COVID-19 SOPs were followed to investigate each individual. Various parameters such as symptom presentation, demographics' details, ventilator therapy and oxygen required, and co-morbidities were studied. Results: The mean age of the patients was 37.6 +/- 5.7 years with an age range of 15 to 81 years. Of the total 104 patients enrolled, 60 (58%)were male and 44 (42%). The prevalence of COVID-19 caused by contact was 67 (65%).Symptomatic patients out of enrolled were 49 (47.1%). In this study, a significant association was found between severe COVID-19 and parameters such ashypertension and diabetes history, and patients having age above 65 years. Out of 104 COVID-19 positive patients, symptomatic complaints were as follows;Cough 29(27.9%), fever 63 (60.6%), and breathe shortness 12 (11.5%). Tachypnea (RR>24), hypoxia and comorbid illness were found 32 (31%), 27 (25.8%), and 45 (43.2%)respectively. About 19 (18.2%) patients needed intensive care unit admission with 5 (4.8%) required immediate ventilation assistance. Mortality was 3.8% (4 patients) observed in this study. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic mortalityrate is higher among patients above 60 years of age and with comorbidities. The COVID-19 majority of patients presented in our hospital were of young or average age and asymptomatic. Respiratory symptoms were present in half and fever was recorded in more than half patients. Comorbidities patients were more venerableto the COVID_19 complications. Early admission and aggressive treatment must beprovided to COVID-19 patients to help reduce the mortality rate.

Chest x-rays findings in patients positive for covid 19 at sheikh zayed hospital lahore

Aim: To assess the results of chest x ray radiographs of patients positive for Covid-19, presented at the tertiary care hospital according to the classification by the British Society of Thoracic Imaging (BSTI. Place and Duration: In COVID-19 Ward (Department of Medicine) Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore for three months duration from January 2021 to March 2021. Methods: A total of 96 patients were selected. In this observational study, positive COVID-19 patient determined by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were enrolled for this study above the age of 14 years. CXR results were classified conferring to BSTI documentation and classification in terms of percentage and frequency. Results: Chest rays of 96 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 by RT-PCR over the age of 14 years were examined. Chest X-rays are classified according to the BSTI Covid-19 X-ray classification. Out of 96 patients, 10 patients (10.41%) had normal chest x-rays, 19 (19.80%) patients had classic bilateral, peripheral and basal consolidation / ground glass opacity (GMO), 60 (62.5%) had unspecified group,7(7.29%) patients have poor quality X-ray film. The unilateral involvement was noticed in 15 and bilateral in 49 patients, 12 of the patients had diffuse involvement on chest radiograph and peripheral involvement in 39 patients. According to regional dominance, 41 of the unspecified (42.70%) had middle and lower lung involvement, 7 (7.29%) had only the middle zone, and 8 (8.33%) had involvement of lower zone. Conclusions: In this study, Covid-19 chest X-rays are usually presented as ground glass opacity, mixed consolidation with GGOs in the middle and lower peripheral areas of the bilateral lung. Chest X-ray BSTI classification is used to classify Covid-19 severity in our patients, thus differentiating in the classic Covid-19 of the middle zone versus low zone involvement.

Digestive Manifestations in Patients Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The prevalence and significance of digestive manifestations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain uncertain. We aimed to assess the prevalence, spectrum, severity, and significance of digestive manifestations in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. METHODS: Consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were identified across a geographically diverse alliance of medical centers in North America. Data pertaining to baseline characteristics, symptomatology, laboratory assessment, imaging, and endoscopic findings from the time of symptom onset until discharge or death were abstracted manually from electronic health records to characterize the prevalence, spectrum, and severity of digestive manifestations. Regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between digestive manifestations and severe outcomes related to COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 1992 patients across 36 centers met eligibility criteria and were included. Overall, 53% of patients experienced at least 1 gastrointestinal symptom at any time during their illness, most commonly diarrhea (34%), nausea (27%), vomiting (16%), and abdominal pain (11%). In 74% of cases, gastrointestinal symptoms were judged to be mild. In total, 35% of patients developed an abnormal alanine aminotransferase or total bilirubin level; these were increased to less than 5 times the upper limit of normal in 77% of cases. After adjusting for potential confounders, the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms at any time (odds ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.76-1.15) or liver test abnormalities on admission (odds ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.80-2.12) were not associated independently with mechanical ventilation or death. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, gastrointestinal symptoms and liver test abnormalities were common, but the majority were mild and their presence was not associated with a more severe clinical course.

Digestive Manifestations in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 (preprint)

BackgroundThe prevalence and significance of digestive manifestations in COVID-19 remain uncertain. MethodsConsecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were identified across a geographically diverse alliance of medical centers in North America. Data pertaining to baseline characteristics, symptomatology, laboratory assessment, imaging, and endoscopic findings from the time of symptom onset until discharge or death were manually abstracted from electronic health records to characterize the prevalence, spectrum, and severity of digestive manifestations. Regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between digestive manifestations and severe outcomes related to COVID-19. ResultsA total of 1992 patients across 36 centers met eligibility criteria and were included. Overall, 53% of patients experienced at least one gastrointestinal symptom at any time during their illness, most commonly diarrhea (34%), nausea (27%), vomiting (16%), and abdominal pain (11%). In 74% of cases, gastrointestinal symptoms were judged to be mild. In total, 35% of patients developed an abnormal alanine aminotransferase or total bilirubin level; these were elevated to less than 5 times the upper limit of normal in 77% of cases. After adjusting for potential confounders, the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms at any time (odds ratio 0.93, 95% confidence interval 0.76-1.15) or liver test abnormalities on admission (odds ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval 0.80-2.12) were not independently associated with mechanical ventilation or death. ConclusionsAmong patients hospitalized with COVID-19, gastrointestinal symptoms and liver test abnormalities were common but the majority were mild and their presence was not associated with a more severe clinical course