Clinical characteristics and outcomes of adult patients admitted with COVID-19 in East London: a retrospective cohort analysis. Issue 1 (17th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Daryl; Calderwood, Claire; Skyllberg, Erik; Ainley, Adam
• Is Part Of: BMJ open respiratory research. Volume 8:Issue 1(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03-17
• Subjects: clinical epidemiology -- imaging/CT MRI etc -- pneumonia -- respiratory infection -- viral infection -- non invasive ventilation; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Respiratory therapy -- Periodicals; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000813
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-4439

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Descriptions of clinical characteristics of patients hospitalised withCOVID-19, their clinical course and short-term inpatient and outpatient outcomes in deprived urban populations in the UK are still relatively sparse. We describe the epidemiology, clinical course, experience of non-invasive ventilation and intensive care, mortality and short-term sequelae of patients admitted to two large District General Hospitals across a large East London National Health Service Trust during the first wave of the pandemic. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on a cohort of 1946 patients with a clinical or laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19, including descriptive statistics and survival analysis. A more detailed analysis was undertaken of a subset of patients admitted across three respiratory units in the trust. Results: Increasing age, male sex and Asian ethnicity were associated with worse outcomes. Increasing severity of chest X-ray abnormalities trended with mortality. Radiological changes persisted in over 50% of cases at early follow-up (6 weeks). Ongoing symptoms including hair loss, memory impairment, breathlessness, cough and fatigue were reported in 70% of survivors, with 39% of patients unable to return to work due to ongoing symptoms. Conclusions: Understanding the acute clinical features, course of illness and outcomes of COVID-19 will be crucial in understanding the effect of differences in risk, as well as the effectiveness of new interventions and vaccination between the successive waves of the pandemic.