A Study on 696 COVID-19 Cases in Basrah-Southern Iraq: Severity and Outcome Indicators

Background: COVID-19 epidemic is escalating in Basrah regardless of the efforts to abate the wave of new cases. Objectives: To present a profile on the demographic and selected clinical characteristics of COVID-19 cases reported in Basrah from March 9 to May 19, 2020. Patients and Method: A record-based observational study was conducted in Basrah. Data were compiled from all available sources on the cases reported between March 9 and May 19, 2020. Data included age, sex, residence, occupation, date of onset of detection of infection, severity of clinical condition, and fate in terms of cure, continuing treatment, or death. Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences programs were used for data-base generation and for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 696 cases were identified, with ages ranging from < one year to 99 years. Males accounted for 42.5% and females for 57.5%. Most of the cases were from Basrah city and the district of Hartha. Housewives and self-employed people represented a majority of cases (28.4 and 21.6% respectively). Most of the cases were either asymptomatic (51.3%) or with mild condition (30.3%). Critical cases represented a small proportion (3.2%) and case fatality was relatively low (2.6%). The presence of co-morbidity, older age and travel history were significant predictors of both severe cases and higher case fatality. Conclusions: COVID-19 cases in Basrah was found among young people, predominantly females, and the fatal outcomes are predicted by severity, older age, and presence of co-morbidity Keywords: COVID-19, Basrah, Case fatality, COVID severity.