The Relationship between Symptoms of COVID-19 Patients, Their Demographic Characteristics, Underlying Condition, and Comorbidities: A Case Study in Iran

Since the emergence of COVID-19 disease and its spread, many people have been globally infected. Also, evidence has shown that some specific conditions and underlying diseases result in more severe symptoms in the patients. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between demographic characteristics and underlying conditions with symptoms in patients with COVID-19 in one of Iran's major hospitals.

The present cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was conducted from February 20th, 2020 to August 20th, 2021. The sampling method was census. The data were collected from the statistics department, medical records, HIS, and they were analysed via SPSS software version 25 using descriptive statistics and statistical tests such as Spearman, Mann-Whitney, and Chi-square.

Among the 7,236 patients with a definite diagnosis of COVID-19, most (53.2%) of the subjects were men and the total death rate was 8%. There was a positive correlation (p-value=0.000) between age and length of stay. About 69% of the patients had symptoms related to the disease in their CT scan and 39.5% had an oxygen level of less than 93%, which roughly 2.6% of them were intubated. There was a significant relationship between patients' age, sex, and length of stay with their discharge status, first symptoms of disease, and patient’s underlying conditions. Also, there was a significant difference in patients' discharge status based on having some early symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, and underlying conditions.

The findings of this study emphasize the importance of early detection and management strategies, especially for individuals with specific risk factors. These insights are crucial in guiding healthcare practices and policies to effectively combat the ongoing pandemic. Also, the study outcomes provide valuable insights for healthcare professionals and policymakers, aiding in the development of targeted interventions and patient-centered care protocols.