J Korean Med Sci.  2021 May;36(18):e132. 10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e132.

Risk Factors of Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients in Korea: Focus on Early Symptoms

• Jang SY
• Seon JY
• Eun BL
• Koh SB
• Yoo JH
• Lee WY
• Yum HK
• Yoon SJ
• Oh IH
• Bae SC
• Chang SG

• KMID: 2515859
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e132

Abstract

Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread around the globe, and it is important to determine the risk factors of death in the general population. Our study aimed to determine the risk factors of death and severe illness requiring supplemental oxygen therapy based on the demographic and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in Korea.
Methods
In this study, we used data provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and analyzed a total of 5,068 patients with COVID-19, excluding 19 pregnant women and 544 individuals with missing data. We performed logistic regression analysis to determine the impact of early symptoms on survival and severe disease. Logistic regression models included sex, age, number of comorbidities, symptoms on admission, blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature as explanatory variables, and death and oxygen therapy as outcome variables.
Results
Logistic regression analyses revealed that the male sex, older age (≥ 60 years), higher number of comorbidities, presence of symptoms on admission, heart rate ≥ 120 bpm, and body temperature ≥ 37.5°C presented with higher risk of in-hospital death and oxygen therapy requirement. Conversely, rhinorrhea and headache were associated with a low risk of death and oxygen therapy requirement. The findings showed that cough, sputum, and fever were the most common symptoms on admission, while 25.3% of patients with COVID-19 were asymptomatic.
Conclusion
COVID-19 patients with high-risk early symptoms on admission, such as dyspnea and altered mental status, and those without low-risk symptoms of rhinorrhea and headache should be included in priority treatment groups.

Keyword

COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Risk Factors; Signs and Symptoms; Korea

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Symptoms on admission among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 by age group. (A) Total, (B) 0–19 years, (C) 20–39 years, (D) 40–59 years, (E) 60–79 years, (F) ≥ 80 years.

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