Initial Signs and Symptoms in Suspected Patients Admitted to Triage Outpatient Clinic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Single-Center Experience

Objective: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a worldwide pandemic with a huge burden of illness, high economic costs, and mortality rates. This study sought to compare clinical signs and symptoms among adult COVID-19 patients admitted to triage outpatient clinics. Methods: In this observational retrospective study, clinical symptoms, biochemical parameters, and chest computed tomography (CT) of 1745 suspected patients admitted to COVID-19 triage outpatient clinic between 01 April 2020-01 September 2020 were analyzed. Results: A total of 650 (37.2%) of 1745 patients who were admitted to triage outpatient clinic were diagnosed as COVID-19 by PCR confirmation. Of the participants, 88.1% had at least one symptom, 11.9% were asymptomatic. Almost half of the patients (50.1%) had a history of exposure including contact with COVID-19 confirmed cases. COVID-19 (+) patients were more diabetic and hypertensive than negative cases. In patients who underwent chest CT imaging, 40.6% (310) had pneumonic infiltrations compatible with COVID-19 pneumonia. Hemoglobin, leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts were lower, but CRP levels were higher in patients with COVID-19. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that older age (OR=1.020;p=0.018), contact with confirmed COVID-19 patient (OR=1.907, p=0.009), fever (OR=1,588, p=0,001), fatigue (OR=2.075, p=0.009), cough (OR= 2.301, p<0.001) were significantly associated with increased odds of PCR (+) status. Conclusions: Predictive factors associated with PCR (+) test results were older age, history of contact with confirmed COVID-19 patient, high fever, fatigue, cough in our study. Some symptoms could have a significant relationship with PCR positivity, which requires a more careful approach during the first admission to healthcare facilities.