A Retrospective Cross Sectional Study of Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors of Covid 19 Patients Admitted to a Gambian Teaching Hospital

Background: The first case of Novel coronavirus disease (COVID 19) was diagnosed in The Gambia on the 17th March 2020. We therefore investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of COVID 19 patients admitted at a Gambian teaching Hospital. Method: Out of 407 suspected COVID 19 patients, 137 (33.7%) tested positive for COVID 19 and were recruited. Clinical features, treatment and outcomes were recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess prognostic factors of survival in our patients. Results: The median age of our patients was 60 years (19-100) and 86 (62.8%) were men. Eighty nine (64.9%) patients had co-morbidities, mostly Hypertension 51 (37.2%) and Diabetes Mellitus 47 (34.3%). The most common symptoms were cough 71 (51.8%) and dyspnea 53 (38.7%) and majority of patients presented with SPO ≤ 93% 75 (54.7%). Patients with SPO2 ≤ 93% were older 63.2 vs. 53.1 years (p=0.001), more likely to present with dyspnea (p=0.002), Cough (0.035), higher respiratory rate (p<0.001) and co-morbidities (p=0.009) compared to patients with SPO2>93%. Non survivors were older 63.2 vs 53.1 years (p=0.001), more likely to present with higher respiratory rate (p=0.014), lower oxygen saturation (p=<0.001), to be referred from lower level health facility (p=0.012) and to have Diabetes mellitus (p=0.007) as compared to survivors. Our cumulative mortality is 49 (35.8%) and mortality rate of patients referred from lower level heath facilities was 46 % as compared to 25 % for self referred patients. Multivariate analysis showed increasing odds of mortality independently associated with Age≥ 60 years (odd ratio, 2.87: 95% CI, 1.21 to 6.83, p=0.012), Diabetes mellitus (odd ratio, 3.47: 95% CI, 1.44 to 8.36, p=0.006), oxygen saturation ≤ 93% (odd ratio, 3.18: 95% CI, 1.27 to 7.99, p=0.014) and referral from lower level health facility (odd ratio, 2.87: 95% CI, 1.11 to 6.82, p=0.017).Conclusion: Older patients, patients with Diabetes Mellitus, hypoxemia or patients referred from lower level health facilities are at increased risk of death. In resource limited countries where critical care/emergency medicine resources are limited, our results may help guide the clinical management of patients with severe COVID-19.