Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) started in China at the end of 2019 and has occurred as a substantial and severe threat to global health. We aimed to evaluate the clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory findings of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in early period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Saudi Arabia to direct us in help, understand, limit and treat COVID-19 across Saudi Arabia and around the world.
Methods: This descriptive, hospital-based study collected all confirmed COVID-19 infected patients in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Al-Noor specialist Hospital from March 2 to April 30, 2020.
Results: One hundred and fifty one patients (mean age 45.9 ± 16.5), 70.8% of them were male identified to be COVID-19 positive. The common signs and symptoms at presentation were cough, fever, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Total leucocytes counts and lymphocyte counts, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were higher in the older adults than in younger adults patients.
Conclusions: In the series of infected patients in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, old age and male gender could be affecting the severity of symptoms, disordered laboratory parameters and duration of admission in hospital. The blood group O- had the highest level of infection. Azithromycin and Oseltamivir improve the outcome of most patients.
Key words: COVID-19, Symptoms, Comorbidities, Saudi Arabia, Epidemiology.
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