Clinical profiles and outcome of patients with COVID-19 in a specialized hospital in Japan

PURPOSE: To characterize the clinical features and outcome of patients treated at a specialized hospital for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the symptoms on admission, treatment, and outcome of a total of 300 patients with mild (peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) ≥ 96%), moderate I (93% < SpO(2) < 96%), moderate II (SpO(2) ≤ 93%) and severe (requiring admission to the ICU or mechanical ventilation) COVID-19. RESULTS: Median age was 53 (interquartile range [IQR] 33–72) years and 57% was male. The number of patients with mild, moderate I, II and severe condition was 85, 138, 61 and 16, respectively. Common presenting symptoms were cough (n = 71), loss of taste (42), loss of smell (39), fever ≥ 37.5 °C (36). Dyspnea was observed only 21 cases; 57 reported no symptoms on admission. Favipiravir, ciclesonide, dexamethasone, and heparin were administered in 106, 168, 65, and 38 patients, respectively, but not remdesivir. The median duration of hospitalization was 10 (7–15) days. All patients with mild and moderate I severity were discharged. Among the 77 patients classified as moderate II or severe, 3 were transferred to tertiary hospitals for further treatment on the day of admission. The respiratory condition worsened in 21 patients; 18 required transfer to tertiary hospitals 3 (median) days after admission and 3 died. CONCLUSION: Respiratory condition recovered in 92%; whereas it worsened in 7% and the mortality rate was 1%. The ratios of male patients, of patients with diabetes mellitus in those with the decreased respiratory condition, were significantly higher than recovered.