Características clínicas, sociodemográficas y evolución de los pacientes con SARS-CoV-2 en dos áreas sanitarias de Extremadura en el primer semestre de la pandemia

Objective

To describe clinical and sociodemographic characteristics as well as the outcome of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in first six months of the pandemic.

Design

Observational and ambispective study.

Site

Primary Care (two Health Areas in Extremadura).

Participants

A total of 1,422 patients were included (mean age 45.6 years; 53.2% women) who had the ICPC-2 diagnostic code for “confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection” recorded in their clinical history during the first six months of the pandemic.

Interventions

Not necessary.

Main measurements

Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics as well as outcome of patients (hospital visits, admissions and mortality).

Results

The mean age (50.8 vs. 42.3 years, p< 0.001), and prevalence of most of the comorbidities, dependent patients (13.8% vs. 4.0%), and residents in social care institutions (15.4% vs. 3.1%) were higher in the Don Benito-Villanueva area than in Badajoz. The predominant age group was 19-49 years (44.4%). 41.4% of patients were actively employed, mainly in National Classification of Occupations groups 2, 5, and 9, while 16.5% were social healthcare professionals. 16.5% of patients visited the hospital, 13.4% required hospitalization. Among those who consulted in hospital emergency departments independently, 46.2% were hospitalized, compared to 78.8% of those referred from primary care (p = 0.000). The overall mortality rate was 2.0% (3.1% in Don Benito-Villanueva versus 1.3% in Badajoz; p = 0.016) increasing to 8.9% among hospitalized patients.

Conclusions

Sociodemographic and clinical differences were noted between the two health areas. Most infections were managed in primary care, while those referred to the hospital had a higher hospitalization rate.