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. 2020 Mar 28;26(6):729–734. doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.03.026

Table 2.

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19, SARS and MERS

COVID-19 [[1], [2], [3]] SARS [43,[46], [47], [48]] MERS [36,49,50]
Date of emergence in human population
2019 2002 2012
Absolute number of cases
80 239 8096 2260
Demographic and general characteristics, % of cases
Male 40–60 38–42 59.5–64
Female 40–55 64–68 35–40
Cardiovascular disease 10–46 8 9.1
Chronic lung disease 1–2 1–2 10.2
Diabetes 10 16 18.8
Malignancy 2–4 6 15.5
Signs and symptoms, % of cases
Fever 81–91 99–100 81.7–98
Cough 48–68 57–75 56.9–83
Dyspnoea 19–31 40–42 22–72
Sore throat 29 13–25 9.1–14
Dizziness and confusion 22 4–43 5.4
Diarrhoea 16 23–70 19.4–26
Nausea and vomiting 6 20–35 14–21
Laboratory findings on admission, % of cases
Leukopenia 35 33.9 14
Lymphopenia 35–72 54–70 32
Thrombocytopenia 12 44.8 36
Elevated aminotransferases 28–35 23 11–40
Radiological chest findings on admission, % of cases
Unilateral infiltrate 10 46–54 14.3–62.6
Bilateral infiltrate 84–90 29–45 37.4–75
No findings 14 13–25 4.3–30
Complications, % of cases
Intensive care unit admission 24 23–34 53–89
Acute respiratory distress syndrome 18–30 20 20–30
Acute kidney injury 3 6.7 41–50
Deaths in hospitalized patients 10–11 3.6–15.7 30–40