Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Patients with COVID-19 in Iranshahr Hospitals, Southeastern Iran in 2020

Over the past year, COVID-19 has been identified as a major health problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 in Iranshahr hospitals, southeastern Iran in 2020.

In the present cross-sectional study, patients admitted with a definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 in Iranshahr hospitals in April and May 2020 were evaluated (169 patients). The instruments used in this study included a demographic data questionnaire and a checklist to assess the patientchr('39')s clinical condition.

The mean age of patients with COVID-19 was 46 years. The incidence of COVID-19 was slightly higher in men than in women. In patients with COVID-19, a history of hypertension was reported in 24.3%, heart disease in 22.5% and diabetes in 12.4%. Shortness of breath with 71.6% and cough with 69.8% were the most common symptoms and chest pain with 7.7% were the lowest symptoms recorded in patients with COVID-19. 146 people (86.4%) recovered and 34 (13.6%) died.

People with a history of underlying diseases and old age are at high risk of developing COVID-19, so conservative measures and self-quarantine should be performed for these people. In this study, the findings showed that the most obvious symptoms of COVID-19 are shortness of breath and cough, which can be helpful in diagnosing this disease.