Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of the patients
| All (n = 41) | Mild patients (n = 25) | Severe patients (n = 16) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 51 (38, 59) | 48 (38, 58) | 51.5 (37, 60.5) | 0.698 |
| Male, n (%) | 24 (58.5%) | 11 (44%) | 13 (81.2%) | 0.018 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 24.2 (21.9, 25.1) | 24.2 (21.9, 25.1) | 24.0 (22.2, 25.8) | 0.873 |
| Smoking history | 4 (9.76%) | 2 (8%) | 2 (12.5%) | 0.636 |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| Hypertension, n (%) | 10 (24.4%) | 4 (16%) | 6 (37.5%) | 0.118 |
| Type 2 diabetes, n (%) | 4 (9.7%) | 2 (8%) | 2 (12.5%) | 0.636 |
| Coronary artery heart disease, n (%) | 2 (4.9%) | 1 (4%) | 1 (6.25%) | 0.745 |
| COPD/emphysema, n (%) | 2 (4.9%) | 2 (8%) | 0 (0%) | 0.246 |
| Illness progress | ||||
| Duration from illness onset to hospital admission, days | 5 (2, 7) | 6 (4, 8) | 5 (1.5, 6) | 0.427 |
| Nasopharyngeal viral RNA shedding duration, days | 19 (15, 26) | 17 (13, 23) | 22 (16, 28) | 0.077 |
| Duration of hospitalization, days | 17 (14, 23) | 16 (12, 19) | 19 (15.5, 25.5) | 0.071 |
| ICU admission, n (%) | 3 (7.3%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (18.7%) | 0.024 |
| HFNC, n (%) | 6 (14.6%) | 0 (0%) | 6 (37.5%) | 0.001 |
| Corticosteroid treatment, n (%) | 30 (73.2%) | 15 (60%) | 15 (93.75%) | 0.017 |
| Median corticosteroid dose | 60 (40,80) | 40 (40, 60) | 80 (40,80) | 0.112 |
| PFTs at 1-year follow-up# | ||||
| DLCO < 80%, n (%) | 3 (7.3%) | 1 (4.0%) | 2 (12.5%) | 0.515 |
| TLC < 80%, n (%) | 5 (12.2%) | 2 (8%) | 3 (18.7%) | 0.538 |
| FEV1/FVC < 0.70, n (%) | 3 (7.3%) | 3 (12.0%) | 0 (0%) | 0.087 |
| FVC % | 97 (86, 105) | 99 (93, 106) | 91.5 (81, 103.5) | 0.25 |
| FEV1 % | 100 (87, 104) | 100 (91, 104) | 95.5 (80, 104.5) | 0.399 |
| PEF | 88 (71, 100) | 92 (69, 100) | 82.5 (71, 96.5) | 0.584 |
| FEV1/FVC | 82.4 (78.3, 85.1) | 83 (77.9, 85) | 81.45 (78.3, 85.6) | 0.947 |
| DLCO % | 112 (99, 121) | 113 (106, 122) | 101 (91.5, 120) | 0.067 |
| TLC % | 96 (88, 107) | 99 (94, 110) | 92.5 (86, 104) | 0.057 |
| RV % | 120 (106, 132) | 131 (110, 144) | 109.5 (105.5, 120.5) | 0.014 |
The quantitative data are shown as median data and inter quartile range data in brackets
The occurrence data are shown as no. (%). Values indicate no. of positive results/total no. of patients with available assay results
Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables was used for comparison between groups when applicable with p < 0.05 as significant
Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; ICU, intensive care unit; HFNC, high flow nasal catheter oxygen therapy; PFTs, pulmonary function tests; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in the first 1 s of expiration; PEF, peak expiratory flow; DLCO, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide; TLC, total lung capacity; RV, residual volume
#Pulmonary function tests were expressed as percent of the predicted value