Assessment and management of the SARS-CoV-2 infection: A secondary
center experience
Abstract
Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the management and
outcomes of the patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a secondary hospital. Methods: A total of
699 hospitalized patients who had positive rRT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and/or
typical findings of COVID-19 at chest computed tomography (CT) were
enrolled in this study. Demographics, comorbities, initial laboratory
tests on admission, treatment modalities, complications and outcomes
were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The mean age was 57.0±15.6
(range:16-94 years), and male:female ratio was 1.24. 58.7% of the
patients had at least one underlying comorbidity, the most common was
hypertension. 72.8% of the patients had positive RT-PCR. 18.1% of the
patients had lymphopenia, 35.7% hyperferritinemia, 58.3% increased
lactate dehydrogenase, and 58.5% increased D-dimer. Chest CT revealed
moderate and severe stage in 57.9% of the patients, and bilateral lung
involvement in 78.7%. Hydroxychloroquine was given to 37.2% and
favipiravir 67.1% of the patients. No significant difference was
observed between treatment groups in terms of mortality (P=0.487). 5.8%
of the patients were transferred to the ICU, of whom 75.6% were needed
non-invasive and 36.5% invasive mechanical ventilation. The overall
case fatality rate was 0.9. Conclusions: Older age, male sex, low
lymphocyte count, CT findings including bilateral involvement and severe
stage were significantly associated with poor prognosis and mortality.