AIM: This meta‐analysis aimed to explore potential risk factors for severe Covid‐19. METHODS: We systemically and comprehensively retrieved the eligible study evaluating clinical differences between severe vs non‐severe Covid‐19. Main effect sizes were demographic characteristics, comorbidities, signs and symptoms, laboratory findings as well as radiological features of chest CT. RESULTS: A total of 2566 Covid‐19 people (771 in the severe group and 1795 in the non‐severe group) from 14 studies were eligible for this meta‐analysis. It was demonstrated that older age and males were more likely to have severe Covid‐19. Patients with underlying comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and COPD were significantly more susceptible to severe Covid‐19. Patients with dyspnoea were more likely to be severely ill. Depressed total lymphocytes were observed in this article. Meanwhile, although reticulation (30.8%), intrathoracic lymph node enlargement (20.5%) and pleural effusions (30.8%) were relatively infrequent, meta‐analysis revealed that patients with these presentations in chest CT were associated with increased risk of severe Covid‐19. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences in clinical characteristics between the severe and non‐severe Covid‐19 patients. Many factors are related to the severity of the disease, which can help clinicians to differentiate severe patients from non‐severe patients.
Exploration of severe Covid‐19 associated risk factor in China: Meta‐analysis of current evidence