Neera Marathe1, Aashutosh Asati2, Alok Pratap Singh3, Manoj Indurkar4, Saritesh Kumar Thakur5
BACKGROUND
The clinical spectrum of SARS–CoV-2 infection encompasses asymptomatic
infection, mild upper respiratory tract infection, and severe viral pneumonia with
respiratory failure and even death. This study attempts to estimate the time
interval between symptoms onset to severity, time taken for hospitalization, length
of stay in hospital along with demographic and clinical characteristics of deceased
patients infected with Covid-19.
METHODS
This retrospective study was conducted in SSMC associated Dedicated Covid
Hospital, Rewa district, India. Covid-19 positive deaths (112) that occurred from
May 2020 to January 2021 in this institute were considered for this study.
Information regarding socio-demographic profile, systemic diseases / underlying
medical conditions, signs and symptoms of the disease, clinical course, and
investigations were collected and analysed. Time duration variables included were
time from the initial symptom to breathlessness, time taken to seek treatment,
delay in hospitalization, and length of stay in the hospital.
RESULTS
Elderly males with 2 or more comorbid conditions were found to be at higher risk
of mortality. Median duration from onset of initial symptom to treatment seeking
/ hospitalization in DCH was 5 days. While mean duration from onset of initial
symptoms to onset of breathlessness was 2 days 6 hrs. There was a delay of 3
days in hospitalization after experiencing breathlessness. 90 % patients had
bilateral lung involvement at the time of admission. More than half of the patients
had multiple organ involvement. Positive correlation was observed in delay in
hospitalization, with syndrome severity at the time of admission and negative
correlation with length of stay in hospital.
CONCLUSIONS
Delay in hospitalization is observed as an important factor which affects clinical
course. Disease severity increases and length of stay decreases with delayed
presentation at the time of admission. It should be addressed with awareness
generation activities in community and self-assessment tool appropriate and
suitable for implementing in general population.
