The average age of the patients was 62.5 ± 12.6 years; 52% were male and 48% were female. 62% had morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, hyperlipidemia, or kidney diseases. The onset symptoms of the patients were: fever (86%), cough (95%), fatigue (71%), shortness of breath (43%) and diarrhea (10%) (Table 1a ). The severities of the admitted patients were 62% of mild, 19% of severe, and 19% of critical, a classification according to Chinese Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines [1]. Patients received standard treatments based on the guidelines of Chinese CDC, including antiviral remedies (arbidol, lopinavir and ribonavir, interferon α inhalation), anti-inflammatory treatments (corticosteroid), and immune-modulator (thymalfasin, immunoglobulin) (Table 1a). Severe and critical cases were given high-flow oxygen, non-invasive or invasive ventilation, depending on their morbidities. Seventeen patients recovered and were discharged, while four patients did not survive.
Table 1a Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients.
No. (%)
Total (n = 21) Survival (n = 17) Non-survival (n = 4)
Age, mean (s.d.) 62.5 (12.6) 61.5 (9.5) 79.7 (14.3)⁎
Male 11 (52.3) 9 (53.9) 2 (50.0)
Comorbidities 13 (61.9) 9 (53.9) 4 (100)
 Type 2 diabetes 3 (14.3) 3 (17.6) 0 (0)
 Hypertension 10 (47.6) 8 (35.3) 2 (50.0)
 Cardiovascular disease 5 (23.8) 3 (17.6) 2 (50.0)
 Kidney diseases 1 (4.8) 1 (5.8) 0 (0)
Onset symptoms
 Fever 18 (85.7) 14 (82.3) 4 (100)
 Cough 20 (95.2) 16 (94.1) 4 (100)
 Fatigue 15 (71.4) 11 (64.7) 4 (100)
 Shortness of breath 9 (42.8) 5 (29.4) 4 (100)
 Diarrhea 2 (9.5) 2 (11.7) 0 (0)
Treatment
 Arbidol 15 (71.4) 12 (70.6) 3 (75.0)
 Lopinavir/ritonavir 7 (33.3) 4 (23.5) 3 (75.0)
 Interferon inhalation 7 (33.3) 4 (23.5) 3 (75.0)
 Corticosteroid 3 (14.3) 3 (17.6) 0 (0)
 Thymalfasin 6 (28.6) 6 (35.3) 0 (0)
 Oxygen 8 (38.1) 4 (23.5) 4 (100)
 Mechanical ventilation 4 (19.0) 0 (0) 4 (100)
⁎ p < 0.05, as compared to the patient group that survived.