Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of COVID-19 patients in Syria: A cross-sectional multicenter study

• Published in: Annals of medicine and surgery 2022-06, Vol.78, p.103816-103816, Article 103816
• Main Authors: Al Houri, Hasan Nabil, Al-tarcheh, Heba, Zahra, Ebtesam, Al-Tarcheh, Ammar, Armashi, Humam, Alhalabi, Marwan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical characteristics; COVID-19; Cross-sectional Study; Prevalence; Prognosis; Syria
• ISSN: 2049-0801; 2049-0801
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103816

COVID-19 ignited a global pandemic that, in Syria, further strained a nation and its healthcare system already ravaged by years of war and sanctions. The first case in Syria was reported on March 22, 2020, and this is the first study that aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and prognosis of COVID-19 patients in Syria. Demographic and clinical data for this cross-sectional prospective study were collected on COVID-19 patients with positive polymerase chain reaction tests who were admitted to Al Assad and Al Mouwasat university hospitals between April 1 and January 31 of 2021. This study included 701 patients. The majority were over age 60 (59%) and male (67.9%). The commonest symptoms were fever (86.6%) and shortness of breath (75.6%). The commonest comorbidities were hypertension (53.9%) and diabetes mellitus (41.5%). On multivariable analysis, risk factors found to be significantly associated with poor outcomes were advanced age (≥60 years); male gender; high respiratory rate (>35); respiratory failure (PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio