Clinical and computed tomography features of patients suspected of COVID-19 in the university hospital of Oran, Algeria.

BACKGROUND

The analysis of the clinical and radiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients around the world observed a rich semiology, different from one country to another, and within the same country.

AIM

To analyze the clinical, computed tomography (CT) features, and the outcome of patients suspected of COVID-19 hospitalized in a COVID-19 unit of Oran university hospital (Algeria).

METHODS

We collected retrospectively the files of patients suspected of COVID-19 admitted in a COVID-19 unit during July 2020. Data were collected on standardized questionnaire with prior coding of parameters. Patients were admitted according to a triage based on their clinical situation and the chest CT aspects suggestive of COVID-19. Two physicians reviewed the high-resolution CT (HR-CT) images independently, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus with the input of two others experimented physicians.

RESULTS

112 patients (64% males, median age: 68 (18-88) years) were included. The main symptoms were dyspnea (51.7%), cough (34%), fatigue (14%). Almost the half (49.1%) of patients had hypoxemia. The HR-CT findings were typical of COVID-19 in 96% of patients. Although 61% of patients had favorable prognosis, mortality rate was 30%. Mutlivariate analysis of risk factors for death showed that patients aged > 60 years had a 4-fold risk of death (95% confidence interval: [1.27-12.58], p=0.018).

CONCLUSION

Dyspnea, cough and fatigue were predominant symptoms, moderate and severe COVID-19 characterized our patients. Age > 60 years was a major risk factor for the deaths of our patients.