Clinical presentations and drugs used for management of COVID-19 hospitalized patients

Clinical presentations and drugs used for management of COVID-19 hospitalized patients - A retrospective study

Author Maher Banu
Co-Author Mohammad Jahidul Hasan, Shammin Haque
DOI 10.17605/O

Country : Bangladesh
Subject : Pharmacology

Keywords : Clinical presentation, Common drugs, COVID-19 hospitalised patients, Bangladesh

Abstract

The novel Corona virus disease 2019 is a new pandemic experienced worldwide recently in the year 2020 affecting millions regardless of age, gender, race and religion. This devastating disease has almost crippled the world physically, mentally, socially and also financially. This retrospective study determined the clinical presentations and commonly used drugs in hospitalised Covid-19 patients. Fifty cases of COVID-19 patients discharged from Sarkari Karmachari Hospital, Bangladesh, aged ≥ 25 years who were admitted from May to June 2021 were included. Data was collected by a structured questionnaire with informed consent from the patients. Fifty patients met inclusion criteria through convenient sampling from hospital register records. Statistical analysis was done by Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0. Mean age was 57.3±10.1 years with male predominance (60%). Highest participants (40%) belonged to age group 55-64 years. They lived mostly in urban areas (78%) and majority (66%) had contact with Covid-19 patients in last 14 days. Fever (96%), sore throat (92%), cough (88%), shortness of breath (82%), fatigue (80%), diarrhea (56%), anosmia (54%), bodyache (50%), loss of appetite (50%) were the most common symptoms. During hospitalisation, Paracetamol (96%), Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) (86%), antiviral drug (Remdesivir) (72%), Dexamethasone (64%), Montelukast (52%) and Doxophylline (36%) were given. Among the anti-microbials, Ceftriaxone (58%), Moxifloxacin (28%) and Meropenem (22%) were used. Zinc (28%) and Vitamin D3 (32%) supplements were added for patient management. Majority (52%) were hospitalised for 11-20 days and mean±SD was 12.6±5.3 days. Almost (98%) patients were discharged with recovery. This highly infectious disease has become a life-threatening health issue. It presents with some common manifestations but may worsen the patient’s condition upon presence of comorbidity. Patients can be managed with some common drugs, and intensive care must be practised according to severity and investigative findings. Early diagnosis, isolation and management of all COVID-19 patients is required to reduce transmission and mortality.

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