Article ; Online: Evaluation of patients with respiratory infections during the first pandemic wave in Germany: characteristics of COVID-19 versus non-COVID-19 patients.
2021 Volume 21, Issue 1, Page(s) 167
Abstract: ... the first pandemic wave, we aim to assess differences in the characteristics of COVID-19 vs. Non-COVID-19 ... 19 cohorts. By analyzing patients with respiratory infections in the emergency department during ... patients. This is particularly important regarding the second COVID-19 wave and the approaching influenza ...
| Abstract | Background: Characteristics of COVID-19 patients have mainly been reported within confirmed COVID-19 cohorts. By analyzing patients with respiratory infections in the emergency department during the first pandemic wave, we aim to assess differences in the characteristics of COVID-19 vs. Non-COVID-19 patients. This is particularly important regarding the second COVID-19 wave and the approaching influenza season. Methods: We prospectively included 219 patients with suspected COVID-19 who received radiological imaging and RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters as well as RT-PCR results were used for subgroup analysis. Imaging data were reassessed using the following scoring system: 0 - not typical, 1 - possible, 2 - highly suspicious for COVID-19. Results: COVID-19 was diagnosed in 72 (32,9%) patients. In three of them (4,2%) the initial RT-PCR was negative while initial CT scan revealed pneumonic findings. 111 (50,7%) patients, 61 of them (55,0%) COVID-19 positive, had evidence of pneumonia. Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia showed higher body temperature (37,7 ± 0,1 vs. 37,1 ± 0,1 °C; p = 0.0001) and LDH values (386,3 ± 27,1 vs. 310,4 ± 17,5 U/l; p = 0.012) as well as lower leukocytes (7,6 ± 0,5 vs. 10,1 ± 0,6G/l; p = 0.0003) than patients with other pneumonia. Among abnormal CT findings in COVID-19 patients, 57 (93,4%) were evaluated as highly suspicious or possible for COVID-19. In patients with negative RT-PCR and pneumonia, another third was evaluated as highly suspicious or possible for COVID-19 (14 out of 50; 28,0%). The sensitivity in the detection of patients requiring isolation was higher with initial chest CT than with initial RT-PCR (90,4% vs. 79,5%). Conclusions: COVID-19 patients show typical clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters which enable a sensitive detection of patients who demand isolation measures due to COVID-19. |
|---|---|
| MeSH term(s) | Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; COVID-19/diagnosis ; COVID-19/epidemiology ; COVID-19/physiopathology ; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Germany/epidemiology ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Lung/diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Prospective Studies ; Respiratory Tract Infections/diagnosis ; Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology ; Respiratory Tract Infections/physiopathology ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult |
| Language | English |
| Publishing date | 2021-02-10 |
| Publishing country | England |
| Document type | Journal Article |
| ZDB-ID | 2041550-3 |
| ISSN | 1471-2334 ; 1471-2334 |
| ISSN (online) | 1471-2334 |
| ISSN | 1471-2334 |
| DOI | 10.1186/s12879-021-05829-x |
| Database | MEDical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System OnLINE |
More links
Kategorien
Order via subito
This service is chargeable due to the Delivery terms set by subito. Orders including an article and supplementary material will be classified as separate orders. In these cases, fees will be demanded for each order.