A Survey on the First ۱۰۰ COVID-۱۹ Patients Admitted to a Referral Center in Northern Iran in Early ۲۰۲۰

Background: Lymphopenia is an important but nonspecific laboratory indicator of COVID-۱۹. Objectives: To describe epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of the first cases of the COVID-۱۹ referred to a center dedicated to COVID-۱۹ patients in Iran.  Methods: This research is a retrospective cross-sectional study on ۱۰۰ confirmed cases with COVID-۱۹, hospitalized from February ۲۵ to March ۱۰, ۲۰۲۰, in Qaemshahr Razi Hospital in Mazandaran Province, Iran. The main demographic data, clinical features, including outcomes, laboratory findings, and therapeutic protocols, were collected in a structured form and analyzed. Results: The Mean±SD age of the patients was ۵۶.۷±۱۵.۶ years. Fifty-nine percent (n=۵۹) of the patients were male. Nineteen percent (n=۱۹) were admitted to the ICU. The median (IQR) time from disease onset to hospital admission was ۵ (۳-۷) days. The most common symptoms were fever (۷۳%), dyspnea (۶۷%), dry cough (۶۱%), and myalgia (۶۱%). The severity of the disease was moderate in most patients (n=۵۴). The average hospital stay for patients was ۷ days. The non-survivor cases in comparison to survived ones were from a higher age group (۶۵ vs ۵۲ years; P=۰.۰۰۱), had a higher frequency of underlying diseases (۶۸.۴% vs ۳۹.۵%; P=۰.۰۳۹), had a lower peripheral capillary O۲ saturation at the time of admission (۷۹% vs ۹۴%; P<۰.۰۰۱), and were more likely to have lymphopenia (۶۳.۲% vs ۳۷%; P=۰.۰۳۴). Conclusion: Lymphopenia, increased neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and decreased peripheral capillary O۲ saturation are commonly seen in COVID-۱۹ patients, especially among severe cases, and can be used in developing clinical prediction rules.

Keywords:

Coronavirus , COVID-۱۹ , Iran , Epidemiology , Clinical