Clinical Presentation, Management, and Outcomes of Patients with COVID-19 Disease: A Report from a Large Tertiary Hospital in Iran

 The aim of the present study was to assess clinical characteristics, management, and in-hospital outcomes of COVID-19 among oil refinery workers in a single referral center.

 This cross-sectional study was conducted in a non-COVID single referral center from March to August 2020. At the Naft Grand Hospital, a COVID-19 specimen collection and molecular detection unit was established, and staff were trained how to collect suitable samples (sufficiently deep swabs), store, pack, and transport them. The diagnosis of COVID-19 infection (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

 Overall, 500 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection were included, among whom the most common comorbidities were hypertension (52.2%) and diabetes (45.6%). Moreover, 298 patients (59.6%) had one to three comorbidities; 148 patients (29.6%) had four to six comorbidities, and two patients (0.4%) suffered from seven and more comorbidities. Out of these, 23 patients (4.6%) had cancer, and 206 (41.2%) suffered from other diseases. Most of the patients (390, 78.8%) received Kaletra, and 387 (78.02%) were treated with Azithromycin. Overall, PCR results were positive in 377 (75.4%) patients; computed tomography scan (CT-scan) was positive in 413 (82.6%), and CRP test rendered positive results in 335 patients (67%).

 Most referred cases were survivors with mild to moderate symptoms, and a few of them were unfortunately non-survivors. This could be due to the appropriate responses to treatment and institutional isolation of people with mild COVID-19 symptoms. Thus, good and evidence-based clinical care combined with intense public health interventions will save the lives of thousands, if not millions, worldwide.