Open AccessClinical characteristics, treatment regimen and duration of hospitalization among COVID-19 patients in Ghana: a retrospective cohort study
Author(s) -
Mary Eyram Ashinyo,
Vida Duti,
Stephen Dajaan Dubik,
Kingsley E. Amegah,
Selorm Kutsoati,
Ebenezer OduroMensah,
Peter Puplampu,
Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt,
Delese Mimi Darko,
Kwame Ohene Buabeng,
Anthony Ashinyo,
Anthony Ofosu,
Nyonuku Akosua Baddoo,
Samuel Kaba Akoriyea,
Francis Ofei,
Patrick Kuma-Aboagye
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the pan african medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.287
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 1937-8688
DOI - 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.37.1.25718
Subject(s) - medicine , regimen , covid-19 , pandemic , retrospective cohort study , duration (music) , cohort , cohort study , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , disease , virology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , outbreak , art , literature
COVID-19 is a global pandemic seen in modern times. The clinical characteristics, treatment regimen and duration of hospitalization of COVID-19 patients remain unclear in Ghana. Methods we retrospectively reviewed the secondary data of 307 discharged COVID-19 patients to characterize their demographics, clinical symptoms, treatment regimen given and duration of hospitalization. Results the mean age and temperature of the patients were 37.9 years and 36.3°C, respectively. The majority (85.7%) of the cases reviewed were asymptomatic; for those presenting with symptoms, the main ones were cough (50%), fever (29.6%), headache (27.3%), and sore throat (22.7%). Comorbidities were present in 25.1% of the patients; the popularly reported comorbidities were hypertension (71.4%), asthma (7.8%) and diabetes (6.5%). The average duration of hospitalization was 13.8 days, and the duration of hospitalization for patients managed with azithromycin + chloroquine (AZ+CQ) was 10.4 days, followed closely by those managed with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) only, 11.0 days. There was longer duration of hospitalization among patients who received AZ only compared to patients receiving AZ + CQ (3.24 ± 1.10 days, p=0.037; 95% CI 0.11, 6.37). Linear regression analysis showed that the duration of hospitalization for patients who received AZ only was 2.7 days, which was higher than that of patients who received AZ+CQ and HCQ only (95% CI 0.44, 4.93; p=0.019). Conclusion in this cohort of COVID-19 patients, the common symptoms were cough, fever, headache, and sore throat. The use of AZ+CQ or HCQ only as a therapy for managing COVID-19 patients shortened the duration of hospitalization.