Natural history of COVID-19: back to basics

We retrospectively reconstituted the history of evolution and onset of the main symptoms of COVID-19 in 70 patients ([29 males, 41%] with a mean age of 56.7 ± 19.3 [19–96] years). Firstly, pain syndrome defined by headache and/or myalgia and/or arthralgia (87%, n = 61) appeared as the first manifestation 1.6 day after the onset of the illness. Secondly, fever (76%, n = 53), followed by cough (80%, n = 56) and diarrhea (40%, n = 28). Thirty three patients (47.1%) were hospitalized on day 7 (±3) with a mean duration of hospitalization of 6.9 (±5.8 [1–21]) days. Twenty-three patients (32.9%) required oxygen therapy 6.7 (±4.1 [1–13]) days from illness onset. Fifteen patients had a respiratory rate ≥22/min on day 9 (±0.8) and only 8 patients (15%) were admitted or transferred in an ICU on day 10 (±2.7) with a mean duration of hospitalization in ICU of 7.9 (±6.6 [2–21]) days.