Clinical Characteristics And Analysis Of Risk Factors For Disease Progression Of COVID-19 Among Patients Within Wad Medani Isolation Centers, Gezira State: A Retrospective Cohort Study From Sudan

Abstract

Background : (COVID-19) had a great impact on the world’s health systems since December 2019. A little is known about the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity in Sudanese Patients; therefor it is necessary to summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and to explore the risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity. Methods : A one-year retrospective cohort study (May 2020- May2021) was done at three isolation centers in Wad Medani. Sample contained all COVID-19 patients who are over 18 years old and were confirmed to be COVID-19 by nucleic acid testing or features Suggestive of Covid19 on Chest CT scan. Results : This study included 418 patients confirmed COVID-19 cases with a median age of 66.3±13years. 179 (64.2%) patients were men. Hypertension (n=195; 46.7%) and diabetes (n=187; 44.7%) were the most common comorbidities. The most common symptoms at COVID-19 onset were fever (n=303; 72.5%), cough (n=278; 66.5%) and dyspnea (n= 256; 61.2%). the overall mortality rate was 35.4% (n=148). The morality rate was 42.3% (n=118) among patients with severe disease. The Chi-square test and ANOVA analysis revealed that older age, anemia, neutrophilia and lymphcytopenia, higher glucose levels, HbA1c levels and creatinine levels were variables associated with severe COVID-19. In inflammatory markers, the levels of CRP and d-dimer were elevated in severe infection more than moderate and mild infections. Conclusion : Patients with these factors are more likely to deteriorate into severe infection and have higher mortality rate than those without these factors.