Clinical features and associated comorbidities in 200 cases of COVID-19 in Peshawar, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

SARS-CoV-2 is an emerging pathogen first reported in China and rapidly spreads throughout the world. The current study focused on the prevalence of symptoms, leukocytosis, leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and comorbidity in patients resulted positive for COVID-19. About 200 patients were enrolled in the study first screened by ICT and then confirmed by RT-PCR. All the patients have symptoms fever, sore throat and dry cough. However 180 (90%) patients experienced tiredness, aches and pain all over the body in 193 (96%), diarrhea in 160 (80%), conjunctivitis in 64 (32%), headache in 177 (88%), loss of taste and smell in 49 (24%), a rash on skin, or discoloration of fingers or toes in 54 (27%), shortness of breath in 12 (8%), chest pain or pressure in 16 (8%), loss of speech and movement in 4 (2%) patients. 78 (39%) patients were found having co-infections including 23 (29.5%) patients have liver infection, 14 (17.9%) were kidney patients, 16 (20.5%) were heart patients and 25 (32%) were diabetic patients. Leukocytosis were found in 76 (97%) out 78 comorbid patients, while in only 2 (2.6%) non-comorbid patients had leukocytosis. Leukopenia were detected in 122 (61%) non-morbidpatients out of 200 COVID-19 patients. Thrombocytopenia were detected in 118 (59%) COVID-19 patients. The patients with previous cardiovascular diseases and other comorbid conditions may face greater risk of developing the disease into severe form. 51-60 years of individuals are at high risk of getting infection. The hematologic changes are associated with COVID-19 includes thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis, and leukocytopenia.