Clinical characteristics of COVID‑19 complicated with pleural and pericardial effusion in 10 patients

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) patients with pleural and pericardial effusion. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and compared data of 60 COVID‑19 inpatients including 10 patients with pleural effusion (PLE) and pericardial effusion (PCE) and 50 cases without PLE/PCE, from January 20, 2020 to March 23, 2020 in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. The patients' medical history, clinical features, physical findings, laboratory test results, and chest tomographic imaging were recorded and analyzed. Statistical significance was determined using the chi‑square test, Fisher's exact test, and the Mann‑Whitney U‑test. Results: COVID‑19 patients with PLE and PCE had a higher temperature (P<0.001), a higher incidence of breath shortness (P=0.024) and faster respiratory frequency (P=0.004) than those without PLE and PCE. Laboratory findings showed that patients with PLE and PCE had higher levels of C‑reactive protein (CRP,P=0.039) and D‑dimer (P=0.038), and lower levels of lymphocytes (P=0.024), hemoglobin (P=0.003), CD4+T cell counts (P=0.016), and oxygen saturation (P=0.037). Meanwhile, patients with PLE and PCE had higher incidence of severe or critical illness and mortality rates as compared with those without PLE and PCE (all P<0.05). Conclusion: PLE and PCE were indicators for severe inflammation and poor clinical outcomes, and might be independent risk factors for critical type in COVID‑19 patients. It suggests that the treatment for the COVID‑19 patients with PLE and PCE should be more active and timely. © 2021, Editorial Board of Medical Journal of Wuhan University. All right reserved.