Comparative Clinical Characteristics, Laboratory Findings, and Outcomes of Hypoxemic and Non-Hypoxemic Patients Treated at a Makeshift COVID-19 Unit in Bangladesh: A Retrospective Chart Analysis

Background: Starting on 31 December 2019, from Wuhan City, China, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused a global pandemic by 11 March 2020. Bangladesh detected its first case on 8 March 2020, only 66 days later the detection of the first case in China. We aimed to describe the epidemiology, clinical features, laboratory characteristics, and outcomes of Bangladeshi COVID-19 patients. Methods: This retrospective chart analysis compared Bangladeshi COVID-19 patients with hypoxemia compared to those without hypoxemia treated in a makeshift COVID-19 unit of icddr,b. Results: By March 2021, 207 remained in-patient. Nineteen patients (9.2%) died, whereas 10 (4.8%) were referred to different facilities for definitive care. Out of 207 in-patients, 88 patients required oxygen therapy. Multivariable logistic regression identified age (1.07 (1.02-1.13)), dyspnea (3.56 (1.06-11.96)), high CRP (1.13 (1.03-1.25)), and lymphopenia (6.18 (1.81-21.10)) as the independent predictors for hypoxemia in patients hospitalized for COVID 19 (for all, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Older age, dyspnea, high CRP, and lymphopenia are simple, but important, clinical and laboratory parameters. These may help clinicians to identify COVID-19 patients early who are at risk of fatal hypoxemia. Close monitoring, and prompt and aggressive treatment of these patients would curb their morbidity and mortality, especially in resource-limited settings.

Automated summary

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and laboratory parameters of COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh, and found that age, dyspnea, high CRP, and lymphopenia were independent predictors for hypoxemia in hospitalized patients. Early identification and aggressive treatment of high-risk patients can reduce their morbidity and mortality.