Clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Yueyang, Hunan, China

Abstract The clinical characteristics of patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Hunan Province are less understood. We analyzed retrospectively the epidemiological, clinical characteristics, and risk factors associated with severity of 113 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Yueyang, Hunan Province, China, from January 20, 2020, to March 8, 2020, and followed until April 13, 2020. Of the 113 confirmed cases, 92 (81.4%) were from or infected by patients from Hubei province. More than half (63) of patients with COVID-19 had no fever in the early stages of disease. 23% patients had no symptoms at the onset. As of March 8, 2020, 113 (100%) of 113 patients had met the discharge criteria, 0 (0%) patients died. Compared with the non-severe cases, severe cases were associated with older age or patients with comorbidities, secondary bacterial infections, and higher levels of C-reactive protein. Longer duration of virus clearance was associated with a higher risk of progression to critical status. Older patients or patients with comorbidities such as diabetes were more likely to have severe condition. Prompt and effective treatment and sufficient medical resources may still significantly reduce hospital-related transmissions and mortality.