Epidemiological, Clinical Profile and Outcome of Hospitalized COVID Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Nepal during the Second Wave.

Abstract

Background COVID-19 caused a global pandemic. It caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The cases peaked at different intervals. The second wave, worldwide, was caused by delta variant. Majority of cases occurred from April 2021 to November 2021. Nepal was also affected during this period, causing a shortage of intensive care unit beds, oxygen supplies, and trained healthcare professionals. Objective To assess the clinical profile and outcome of patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Nepal. Method An observational study was conducted with data collected from the medical records department after obtaining permission from the hospital authority and ethical clearance from the institutional review board. Sociodemographic variables, clinical profiles including symptoms on presentation, laboratory and imaging reports, duration of hospital stay, and outcome were obtained. Data were entered into SPSS and analysed. Result Among 307 patients,. mean age of the patients was 58.73 years (S.D=17.77). Most common reported symptoms were breathlessness in 59.6% (53.9, 65.1), fever in 58.6% (52.9, 64.2) and cough in 44.3% (38.6, 50.1) cases. The mortality rate was found to be 38.8% (33.2%, 44.5%). Breathlessness on presentation was associated with increased odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 3.24, 95% CI 1.88, 5.60). Males were found to be at 1.77 (95% CI 1.01, 3.11) times risk of death as compared to females. Conclusion Nearly two-third of admitted patients had at least one or more comorbidities. Variability in symptoms on presentation may predict possible patient outcomes. The government should prioritize infectious diseases and plan for disease outbreaks at the national, provincial, and local levels.