Clinical characteristics and in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 adult patients in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Med J. 2020 Nov;41(11):1217-1226. doi: 10.15537/smj.2020.11.25495.

Abstract

Objectives: To provide a detailed study of demographic, baseline comorbidities, clinical features, and outcome for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Methods: A record-based case-series study conducted from March 23 to June 15, 2020 in King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Demographic data, clinical presentation, laboratory investigations, complications, and in-hospital outcome of COVID-19 patients collected with analysis of the clinical characteristics for survivors and deceased.

Results: A total of 768 patients were included. The mean age was 46.36±13.7 years and 76.7% were men. Approximately 96.3% reported more than one comorbidity; diabetes mellitus was the most frequent (46.4%). Fever (84.5%), cough (82.3%), and shortness of breath (79.8%) were the main presenting symptoms. During the follow-up, pneumonia reported in 68.6%, acute respiratory distress syndrome in 32.7%, septic shock in 20.7%, respiratory failure in 20.3%, and acute kidney injury in 19.3%. Approximately 45.8% of enrolled patients required intensive care unit admission. Lung disease (odd ratio [OR]=3.862 with 95% confident interval [CI] (2.455-6.074), obesity (OR=3.732, CI=2.511-5.546), smoking (OR=2.991, CI=2.072-4.317), chronic kidney disease (OR=2.296. CI=1.497-3.521), and diabetes mellitus (OR=2.291, CI=1.714-3.063) are predictors of ICU admission. Fatality ratio was 4.27%; therefore, men were more prevalent in dead group.

Conclusion: Coronavirus disease 2019 places a huge burden on healthcare facilities, particularly in patients with comorbidity. Coronavirus disease 2019 patients who are obese and smokers with history of diabetes mellitus have a high risk of death.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • COVID-19
  • Cause of Death
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity*
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Databases, Factual
  • Female
  • Hospital Mortality / trends*
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infection Control / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
  • Sex Factors
  • Young Adult