Background: The COVID -19 pandemic spread rapidly across the globe, making a land-fall on the Nigerian geo-space in early 2020. Key presenting features were; fever, dry cough, fatigue, myalgia, headache, sore-throat, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dyspnoea amongst others, with a clinical spectrum ranging from mild through severe forms. Aside infection control and supportive care, there was no specific therapy until trials with Remdesivir. Studies have described limited epidemiological findings, presentations and outcomes of COVID patients in Nigeria and elsewhere, but not for the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) specifically Abuja, the Nation's capital city and the second epicenter of the pandemic in Nigeria. The objective of this study therefore, was to describe the Clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients admitted at the Asokoro District Hospital (ADH), Abuja. Methods: Retrospective study that used records of patients admitted, between April and September 2020. Data include; Socio-demographics, medical history, exposure, residential area, co-morbidities, symptoms, signs, treatment measures, duration of hospital stay and outcomes. Results: 270 patients were enrolled for this study. 170(63%) males and 100(37%) females. Mean age was 40.03+13.5years. Forty-one(15.2%) had travel history while 99(36.7%) had contact with confirmed cases. Majority of the patients were married(63.33%), and had tertiary education(74.82%). Commonest symptoms were cough(43.33%), fever(36.67%), headaches(32.22%) and fatigue(31.48%). The duration of stay at the ADH ranged from 2 hours to 28 days. Conclusion: Our patients were young, mainly of the upper class, educated people with mild to severe disease. There was one death, a case with multiple comorbid factors. Keywords: Abuja-Nigeria; COVID patients; Socio-demographics; clinical features; outcomes.

Background: Several studies reveal abnormalities in liver function tests of COVID-19 patients. However, there are little data on African patients. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate liver function tests (LFT) in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infected patients admitted in Asokoro COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Centre in Abuja, Nigeria. Patients, Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 201 laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2-infected patients hospitalized in Asokoro District Hospital COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Centre between April 10 and July 31, 2020. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were obtained, and the outcome measure was LFT abnormalities at presentation. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS Version 24, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Patient median age was 39.3 years (IQR: 26–52); 65.7% were males and 33.8% were health workers. Approximately 49.2% of patients were overweight or obese. Hypertension (22.9%) and diabetes mellitus (7.5%) were the most common comorbidities and only 1% had a known history of liver disease. Abnormal LFTs were observed in 53% of patients (n = 106), most frequently elevated direct bilirubin (78.3%) and alanine aminotransferase (38.7%). Comorbidities were not found significantly associated with LFT abnormalities. Females (odds ratio [OR] = 0.367 P = 0.004 confidence interval [CI] 0.186–0.724) and patients aged 20–29 years (OR = 0.067 P = 0.043 [CI] 0.005–0.916) were found less likely to have abnormal LFTs. Conclusion: Regardless of clinical status at presentation, about half of SARS-CoV-2 patients admitted at the Asokoro Isolation and Treatment Centre in Abuja had abnormal LFT results. It is therefore recommended that LFT is included as a part of baseline investigations during the management of COVID-19 for improved outcomes.

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Background: Knowledge of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is unfolding. Insights from patient features in different environments are therefore vital to understanding the disease and improving outcomes.Aim: This study aimed to describe patient characteristics associated with symptomatic presentation and duration of hospitalisation in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients managed in Abuja.Setting: The study was conducted in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.Methods: This was a retrospective study of 201 COVID-19 patients hospitalised in the Asokoro District Hospital COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Centre between April 2020 and July 2020. Demographic and clinical data were obtained and outcomes assessed were symptom presentation and duration of hospitalisation.Results: Patients’ median age was 39.3 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 26–52); 65.7% were male and 33.8% were health workers. Up to 49.2% of the patients were overweight or obese, 68.2% had mild COVID-19 at presentation and the most common symptoms were cough (38.3%) and fever (33.8%). Hypertension (22.9%) and diabetes mellitus (7.5%) were the most common comorbidities. The median duration of hospitalisation was 14.4 days (IQR: 9.5–19). Individuals with secondary and tertiary education had higher percentage symptoms presentation (8.5% and 34%, respectively), whilst a history of daily alcohol intake increased the length of hospital stay by 129.0%.Conclusion: Higher educational levels were linked with symptom presentation in COVID-19 patients and that daily alcohol intake was significantly associated with longer hospital stay. These findings highlight the importance of public education on COVID-19 for symptom recognition, early presentation and improved outcomes.