Background: We assessed clinical parameters in patients confirmed to have COVID-19 in relation to arterial hypoxaemia and survival.
Methodology: This was a retrospective chart review of patients who were confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus by Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing. Data extracted from patients' case files included patient demographics, presenting symptoms, provisional diagnoses, and outcomes of hospitalisation. Descriptive variables were summarized; proportions were compared using Chi-square tests, and independent predictors of mortality were assessed using multivariate regression analysis. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results: There were a total of 61 patients with positive RT-PCR testing: mean age ± SD (minimum - maximum) was 53.0 ± 18.5 (5 months - 90) years. Persons aged 60 years and above were the largest group (n=24, 39.3%). More than half were male (n=35, 57.4%); about 43% had one morbidity; 41.0% had at least two co-morbidities. The mean (SD) arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) was 86.9% ± 16.7. Patients who were clinically dyspnoeic at presentation, and who had co-morbidities were significantly more hypoxaemic (p = 0.026 and 0.04, respectively). Significantly more patients who had normal oxygen saturation at presentation survived (p = 0.006). None of these variables was an independent predictor of mortality, however.
Conclusion: Arterial hypoxaemia was significantly associated with dyspnoea and underlying disease, and normal oxygen saturation at presentation was significantly associated with survival. Hospital managers and clinicians may thus prioritize routine pulse oximetry, supplemental oxygen therapy and management of co-morbidities in the COVID-19 fight.