Symptomatology and Demographic Profile of COVID-19 Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Center in India: A Hospital Record-Based Study

Introduction: Since its arrival in late 2019, COVID-19 has caused more than 760 million cases and nearly seven million deaths worldwide. As a novel infection research is still underway to understand the epidemiology of COVID-19. The present study was conducted in a tertiary care center in south India to understand the symptomatology of the disease in a local context. Methods: Information for the study was retrieved from the hospital records of the Kunhitharuvai Memorial Charitable Trust (KMCT) COVID Hospital, Kerala, India, of patients admitted from 1st May 2021 to 31st October 2021 (six months). Data on their clinico-demographic profile and treatment outcomes were collected and entered into a proforma. Results: Out of the 2744 patients included in the study, the proportion of males and females was comparable. About 38.6% of patients were above 60 years of age. The most common presenting complaints were fever, cough, and breathlessness. About 2.7% were asymptomatic. The mortality rate during the study period was 4.8% (132 deaths). Conclusion: The present study highlights differences in the symptomology and other demographic features of COVID-19 patients admitted to a hospital in Kerala, India, compared to other regional, national, and international studies. Despite limitations, these differences may have important implications for diagnosing and managing COVID-19 patients in the region.