Comparison of Clinical Characteristics of Hospitalized Patients with and without Covid-19 in Mashhad, Iran: A Retrospective, Single-Center Experiences

Background: Covid-19 is known to be diagnosed with clinical manifestations such as dry mouth, fever, respiratory distress, fatigue and tiredness, decreased leukocyte, and pneumonia evidence on CT- scan. We aimed to investigate the clinical symptoms of hospitalized patients with and without Covid-19 to develop the required clinical information. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in 200 patients suspected of having Covid-19 infection hospitalized in Imam Reza hospital, one of the Referral Hospitals for Covid-19 patients, Mashhad, Iran. Patients’ records were reviewed for demographics and clinical symptoms, and the results of laboratory tests over January and February 2020 were reviewed. The admission criterion was definitive Corona virus infection diagnosis, and the exclusion criteria were suffering from viral hepatitis, chronic liver disease, and liver malignancies. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Results: The prevalence of Covid-19 was revealed to be 75% among the suspected patients (71.1% in women and 77.4% in men). The average age of Covid-19 patients was 55.06± 17.23, and the average hospitalization period of Covid-19 patients was 8.22± 5.81 days. The most prevalent symptom among Covid-19 patients was fever and cold symptoms (65%), respiratory complications (17.5%), and fever (6%). The most significant laboratory findings regarding Covid-19 patients were their high NET, LDH, and CRP levels. Conclusion: The prevalence of Covid-19 was revealed to be 77.4% among the suspected patients. The average age of Covid-19 patients was 55.06± 17.23 years. Based on the results, laboratory parameters are not sufficient for Covid-19 diagnosis due to their low sensitivity and indication, but can improve the value and diagnostic aspects of the disease if used accompanied by CT- scan.