Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients and Risk Factors for Shortness of Breath: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Exploring the clinical characteristics, and risk factors for severe complications among COVID-19-positive patients has been helpful in identifying the most vulnerable communities to which public healthpractitioners should pay special attention. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients, and risk factors for shortness of breath among COVID-19-positive patients in Chattogram, Bangladesh.Materials and Methods: Data were collected using a structured and facilitator-administered questionnaire among the COVID-19-positive patients (N = 408). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the predictors of outcome variables. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24.0.Results: It was revealed that at least one comorbidity was found among about half of the study participants,while the most prevalent symptoms of COVID-19 patients consisted of fever, cough, loss of taste, loss of smell, fatigue, and sore pain. In addition, Azithromycin is a more common treatment in our country. The multivariate logistic regression displays the COVID-19 patients aged more than 50 years (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.13-3.71) and respondents with cardiovascular disease (AOR = 4.60, 95% CI: 1.51-8.58) and the second wave of the coronapandemic (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.06-2.99) were reported as a risk factor for having shortness of breath among the virus-infected people.Conclusion: The findings explored an empirical and practical basis for exploring the risk factors for severecomplications of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, evidence from this study might play a key role in providingpolicymakers with research-based evidence in their continuous effort to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic.