Clinical and epidemiological data of COVID-19 from Regensburg, Germany: a retrospective analysis of 1084 consecutive cases

• Published in: Infection 2021-08, Vol.49 (4), p.661-669
• Main Authors: Lampl, Benedikt M. J., Buczovsky, Matthias, Martin, Gabriele, Schmied, Helen, Leitzmann, Michael, Salzberger, Bernd
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiovascular diseases; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Coronary artery disease; Coronaviruses; Cough; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - mortality; Diabetes mellitus; Disease Outbreaks; Epidemiology; Family Medicine; Fatalities; Female; Fever; General Practice; Germany - epidemiology; Heart diseases; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infectious Diseases; Internal Medicine; Kidney diseases; Lung diseases; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Odor; Original Paper; Retrospective Studies; Risk analysis; Risk factors; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sex Distribution; Signs and symptoms; Taste disorders; Time Factors; Viral diseases; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0300-8126; 1439-0973
• DOI: 10.1007/s15010-021-01580-2

Background COVID-19 is a syndrome caused by the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2. We collected clinical and epidemiologic data in an almost complete cohort of SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals from Regensburg, Germany, from March 2020 to May 2020. Methods Analysis of a retrospectively documented cohort of consecutive COVID-19 cases recorded between March 7, 2020 and May 24, 2020 as part of an infection control investigation program, with prospective follow-up interviews gathering information on type and duration of symptoms and COVID-19 risk factors until June 26, 2020. Results Of 1089 total cases, 1084 (99.5%) cases were included. The incidence during the time period was 315.4/100,000, lower than in the superordinate government district Oberpfalz (468.5/100,000) and the overall state of Bavaria (359.7/100,000). The case fatality ratio (CFR) was 2.1%. Among fatal cases, the mean age was 74.4 years and 87% presented with known risk factors, most commonly chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease, kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus. 897 cases (82.7%) showed at least one symptom, most frequently cough (45%) and fever (41%). Further, 18% of cases suffered from odour/taste disorder. 17% of total cases reported no symptoms. The median duration of general illness was 10 days. During follow-up, 8.9% of 419 interviewed cases reported at least one symptom lasting at least 6 weeks, and fatigue was the most frequent persistent symptom. Discussion We report data on type and duration of symptoms, and clinical severity of nearly all (99.5%) patients with SARS-CoV-2 recorded from March 2020 to May 2020 in Regensburg. A broad range of symptoms and symptom duration was seen, some of them lasting several weeks in a considerable number of cases. The case-fatality ratio was 2.1%. Asymptomatic cases may be underrepresented due to the nature of the study.