Clinical characteristics of asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

• Main Authors: Jumana Mansour AlJishi (Author), Alya Hassan Alhajjaj (Author), Fatimah Lateef Alkhabbaz (Author), Taaweel Hussain AlAbduljabar (Author), Ahmad Alsaif (Author), Hussain Alsaif (Author), Kawther Saeed Alomran (Author), Ghada Ali Aljanobi (Author), Zainab Alghawi (Author), Mohammed Alsaif (Author), Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Background: The first case of COVID-19 infection in Saudi Arabia was reported in Qatif on March 2nd, 2020. Here, we describe the clinical characteristics of the initial COVID-19 patients in that area. Methods: This is an observational study describing the clinical presentation, radiographic and laboratory data of COVID-19 cases. Results: From March 1st, 2020 to April 5th, 2020 we identified a total of 82 adult COVID-19 patients. The median age of the patients was 50 years, with a range of 30 to 60 years and most of patients were female 54 (65.9%). Of all the patients, 29 (35.4%) were contacts and 43 (52.4%) were returning travelers, mainly from Iraq (65% of the total returning travelers). Comorbidities were present in 50% of patients, G6PD deficiency in 33%, hypertension in 27%, and diabetes mellitus in 26%. Chest radiographs were abnormal in 46% of symptomatic and 15.5% of asymptomatic patients (P value = 0.0035). Of all patients, 4 (4.87%) required intensive care admission. There was no significant difference in time to negative RT-PCR with mean days to negativity of 13.6 and 16.9 for asymptomatic and symptomatic group, respectively (P value = 0.42). Conclusions: In the initial Epicenter of the COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia, the majority of the patients were asymptomatic and were returning travelers. Comorbidities were present in nearly half of the patients.

Item Description

1876-0341
10.1016/j.jiph.2020.11.002