Clinical profile and short-term outcomes of RT-PCR- positive patients with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic is still raging worldwide. While there is significant published evidence on the attributes of patients with COVID-19 from lower-income and middle-income countries, there is a dearth of original research published from Bangladesh, a low-income country in Southeast Asia. Based on a case series from a tertiary healthcare centre, this observational study has explored the epidemiology, clinical profile of patients with COVID-19 and short-term outcomes in Dhaka, Bangladesh.Design and settingA total of 422 COVID-19-confirmed patients (via reverse transcription–PCR test) were enrolled in this study (male=271, female=150, 1 unreported). We have compiled medical records of the patients and descriptively reported their demographic, socioeconomic and clinical features, treatment history, health outcomes, and postdischarge complications.ResultPatients were predominantly male (64%), between 35 and 49 years (28%), with at least one comorbidity (52%), and had COVID-19 symptoms for 1 week before hospitalisation (66%). A significantly higher proportion (p<0.05) of male patients had diabetes, hypertension and ischaemic heart disease, while female patients had asthma (p<0.05). The most common symptoms were fever (80%), cough (60%), dyspnoea (41%) and sore throat (21%). The majority of the patients received antibiotics (77%) and anticoagulant therapy (56%) and stayed in the hospital for an average of 12 days. Over 90% of patients were successfully weaned, while 3% died from COVID-19, and 41% reported complications after discharge.ConclusionThe diversity of clinical and epidemiological characteristics and health outcomes of patients with COVID-19 across age groups and gender is noteworthy. Our result will inform the clinicians and epidemiologists of Bangladesh of their COVID-19 mitigation effort.

The Prevalence of Violence Against Healthcare Workers in Trinidad and Tobago

“…The literature reflects that violence in the workplace for HCWs is a long-standing and multifactorial challenge to healthcare systems across the globe with a staggering 62% prevalence of physical violence [2]. The literature further details a myriad of factors that make this phenomenon more likely, including but not limited to understaffing, inadequate security, long waiting times, lack of privacy, and anger from patients and families [3].…”

Predictors of Outcome in Hospitalized Adult COVID-19 Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Hospital in Chattogram

“…Although previous studies detailed the clinical presentation of hospital-admitted reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) positive patients with COVID-19, very few originate from Bangladesh and few are still from the Southeastern part of Bangladesh. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Therefore, the present study was undertaken to describe the clinical features and outcome and to identify the predictors of clinical outcome, as early identification would be paramount in optimal utilization of medical resources in managing these high risk-patients. According to the data of the present series median age of the hospitalized COVID-19 infected patients was 57 years which is in agreement with other studies conducted in and around our country.…”

“…Male predominance of the present study was in agreement with other studies conducted in and around our country. [9][10][11][12][13][14]19 The gender distribution was similar in survivor and non-survivor group. A preliminary Chinese study investigated the role of gender in COVID-19 and found that while males and females had the same prevalence; males had higher mortality as compared to women.…”