Clinical characterization of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 hospitalized at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kourí

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is an emerging disease with pandemic characteristics first reported in China, characterized by a variable clinical syndrome ranging from asymptomatic to severe forms of the disease.

Objective: To characterize, based on clinical variables, patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 hospitalized at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kourí (IPK).

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted on adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized at IPK from March 11^th to June 30^th, 2020.

Results: During the study period, 112 patients were hospitalized, of which 42 (37.5%) had asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and 70 (62.5%) were symptomatic. Females were the predominant gender with 58 patients (51.8%), and the majority of patients were of white skin color (83 patients, 74.1%). The most common age group was 48-63 years with 36 patients (32.1%). Patients with smoking habits 16 (14.2%) and hypertension 28 (25.0%) were most affected by the infection. No statistical significance was found among the other comorbidities analyzed during the infection.

Conclusions: In the present research, the clinical characteristics analyzed in both groups (symptomatic and asymptomatic) were similar, except for arterial hypertension, which exhibited a statistically significant difference. These findings provide valuable insights into COVID-19 in its early stages and establish a baseline for analyzing the virus's evolution and its clinical and epidemiological impact in the future.