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Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of discharged patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 on the Qinghai Plateau
Author(s) -
Xi Aiqi,
Zhuo Ma,
Dai Jingtao,
Ding Yuehe,
Ma Xiuzhen,
Ma Xiaoli,
Wang Xiaoyi,
Shi Lianmeng,
Bai Huanying,
Zheng Hongying,
Nuermberger Eric,
Xu Jian
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.26032
Subject(s) - medicine , epidemiology , pneumonia , coronavirus , transmission (telecommunications) , diabetes mellitus , outbreak , atypical pneumonia , covid-19 , severity of illness , disease , gastroenterology , virology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , endocrinology , electrical engineering , engineering
Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) was first reported in Wuhan, a series of confirmed cases of COVID‐19 were found on the Qinghai‐Tibet plateau. We aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of all confirmed cases in Qinghai, a province at high altitude. The region had no sustained local transmission. Of all 18 patients with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, 15 patients comprising four transmission clusters were identified. Three patients were infected by direct contact without travel history to Wuhan. Of 18 patients, 10 patients showed bilateral pneumonia and two patients showed no abnormalities. Three patients with comorbidities such as hypertension, liver diseases, or diabetes developed severe illness. High C‐reactive protein levels and elevations of both alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were observed in three severely ill patients on admission. All 18 patients were eventually discharged, including the three severe patients who recovered after treatment with noninvasive mechanical ventilation, convalescent plasma, and other therapies. Our findings confirmed human‐to‐human transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 in clusters. Patients with comorbidities are more likely to develop severe illness.