Table 1.
Comparison of the main characteristics of COVID-19 presentation and outcomes between patients admitted during the first wave (March 2020, n = 399) and the third wave (March 2021, n = 370).
| First wave March 2020 (n = 399) |
Third wave March 2021 (n = 370) |
p | p* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demography and personal history | ||||
| Age, years | 72 (61–81) | 65 (55–75) | <0.001 | – |
| Females, % | 40 | 40 | 0.861 | – |
| Chronic illnesses, number | 2 (1–4) | 2 (1–3) | <0.001 | 0.023 |
| Hypertension, % | 61 | 52 | 0.011 | 0.630 |
| Diabetes, % | 22 | 18 | 0.139 | 0.479 |
| Obesity, % | 13 | 15 | 0.302 | 0.833 |
| Dyslipidemia, % | 21 | 19 | 0.624 | 0.813 |
| Chronic heart disease, % | 24 | 10 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Chronic kidney disease, % | 6 | 2 | 0.004 | 0.010 |
| Cancer, % | 12 | 6 | 0.006 | 0.021 |
| Drugs, number | 3 (1–6) | 2 (0–4) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Clinical presentation upon admission | ||||
| Duration of symptoms, days | 7 (4–10) | 6 (3–9) | 0.192 | 0.017 |
| Fever, % | 89 | 81 | 0.001 | <0.001 |
| Cough, % | 53 | 50 | 0.421 | 0.095 |
| Dyspnea,% | 49 | 52 | 0.291 | 0.165 |
| Fatigue, % | 11 | 34 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Diarrhea, % | 6 | 17 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Systolic blood pressure, mmHg | 130 (120–140) | 130 (120–140) | 0.948 | 0.467 |
| Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg | 80 (70–80) | 80 (70–80) | 0.204 | 0.151 |
| Chest CT visual score, % | 30 (15–50) | 25 (15–40) | 0.009 | 0.017 |
| P/F ratio, mmHg | 233 (121–326) | 288 (237–338) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| P/F ratio ≤ 100 mmHg, % | 20 | 5 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Blood tests on admission | ||||
| Hemoglobin, g/dl | 13.8 (12.5–14.9) | 13.9 (12.8–15.0) | 0.499 | 0.984 |
| Platelet count, 1,000/mm3 | 195 (152–243) | 189 (147–244) | 0.716 | 0.278 |
| Neutrophil count, n/mm3 | 4,721 (3338–7,284) | 4,871 (3281–6,824) | 0.966 | 0.680 |
| Lymphocyte count, n/mm3 | 893 (630–1,205) | 852 (588–1,130) | 0.163 | 0.032 |
| Creatinine, mg/dl | 0.9 (0.7–1.2) | 0.9 (0.7–1.1) | 0.018 | 0.377 |
| eGFR, ml/min | 80 (57–105) | 89 (68–113) | <0.001 | 0.275 |
| D-dimer, ng/ml | 922 (600–1,376) | 709 (436–1,258) | <0.001 | 0.022 |
| CRP, mg/L | 106 (50–168) | 52 (26–96) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| PCT, ng/ml | 0.17 (0.09–0.50) | 0.09 (0.05–0.23) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| PCT class 1 (<0.05 ng/ml), % | 9 | 22 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| PCT class 4 (>2 ng/ml), % | 11 | 3 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Treatments and outcomes | ||||
| NIV, % | 14 | 28 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| ICU, % | 5 | 13 | <0.001 | 0.002 |
| Intravenous steroids, % | 16 | 96 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Hospital death, % | 36 | 19 | <0.001 | <0.001 |
| Hospital stay, days | 7 (3–12) | 14 (9–21) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
Data expressed as median and interquartile range or percentage. p values calculated with Mann–Whitney or Chi-square test. *p adjusted for age and sex with Quade non-parametric ANCOVA or binary logistic regression. p values < 0.05 are indicated in bold.
CT = computed tomography; P/F=PaO2/FiO2; eGFR = estimated glomerular filtration rate; CRP=C-reactive protein; PCT = procalcitonin; NIV=non-invasive ventilation; ICU=intensive care unit.