Comparison of the clinical characteristics of patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia between China and overseas

BACKGROUND: To explore the clinical manifestation, imaging examination, and serology of patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID‐19) between China and overseas. METHODS: Ninety patients with COVID‐19 who admitted to Fuzhou Pulmonary Hospital from January 23, 2020, to May 1, 2020, were included in this retrospective study. They were divided into domestic group and overseas group according to the origin regions. The clinical manifestations, imaging examination, serology, treatment, and prognosis between the two groups were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The clinical manifestations of patients in the two groups mainly included fever (83.1% and 47.4%), cough (62% and 31.6%), expectoration (47.9% and 31.6%), anorexia (28.2% and 47.4%), fatigue (21.1% and 10.5%), and dyspnea (22.5% and 0%). The main laboratory characteristics in the two groups were decreased lymphocyte count, increased lactate dehydrogenase, decreased oxygenation index, decreased white blood cell count, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and increased C‐reactive protein. The computed tomography (CT) examinations of chest showed bilateral and peripheral involvement, with multiple patch shadows and ground glass shadows. However, pleural effusions were rare. CONCLUSION: Fever, cough, and dyspnea are more common in domestic cases than overseas cases. However, patients with COVID‐19 from overseas may have the symptoms of loss of taste and smell that domestic cases do not have.