BACKGROUND: During the first pandemic wave, Covid-19 reached Latin America cities AIM: To report clinical features and outcomes of a group of patients with Covid-19 admitted to a Chilean regional reference Center MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cases were identified by a compatible clinical picture and a positive PCR or serological test Clinical features of patients were retrieved from medical records RESULTS: Forty-seven adult patients (45 diagnosed by PCR, 2 by serology) were admitted between epidemiological weeks 13 to 33, corresponding to 4 4% of total regional cases Hospitalization occurred at a median of 10 days after onset of symptoms Fifty one percent of patients had 60 years or more Hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus were present in 57, 45 and 32 % of cases, respectively Nineteen percent of patients had no comorbid condition nor were elderly Two cases were women in their second trimester of pregnancy Positive IgM or IgM/IgG results obtained by rapid serological testing, had limited sensitivity during the first week (67%) Seventeen patients (36 2%) were transferred to an intensive care unit (ICU) due to respiratory failure Chest imaging demonstrated a classical COVID-19 pattern in 87% By univariate analysis, admission to ICU was significantly associated with tachypnea and higher CALL (comorbidity, age, lymphocyte count and lactate dehydrogenase) score Four patients died (rendering a hospital mortality of 8 5%) and length of stay was &gt;= 14 days in 46 8% of patients By univariate analysis, mortality was associated with immunosuppression and ICU admission CONCLUSIONS: In our regional Center, patients admitted with COVID-19 had usual risk factors and had a prolonged stay Hospital mortality was associated with immunosuppression and ICU admission
Clinical features of 47 patients infected with COVID-19 admitted to a Regional Reference Center