Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors for Severity and Pharmacotherapy in Hospitalized COVID‐19 Patients in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

45 years (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.04–4.14, p = 0.040), male gender (OR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.52–6.51, p = 0.002), presentation symptoms such as fever (OR = 3.68, 95% CI:1.34– 10.11, p = 0.011) and shortness of breath/dyspnea (OR = 5.36, 95% CI: 2.69–10.67, p < 0.001), Hb < 13 g/dL (OR = 3.17,95% CI: 1.51–6.65, p = 0.002), neutrophils > 7 × 103/mcL (OR = 4.89, 95% CI: 1.66– 14.37, p=0.004), lymphocytes < 1 × 103/mcL (OR = 7.78, 95% CI: 1.01–60.19, p = 0.049), sodium < 135 mmol/L (OR = 5.42, 95% CI: 1.05–27.95, p = 0.044), potassium < 3.6 mmol/L (OR = 3.36, 95% CI: 1.03– 11.01, p = 0.045), urea > 6.5 mmol/L (OR = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.69–6.73, p = 0.001) and LDH > 227 IU/L (OR = 6.26, 95% CI: 1.61–24.32, p = 0.008) were independent predictors of the severity of COVID‐19. Antivirals (524, 89.6%) and corticosteroids (358, 61.2%) were prescribed for the management of COVID‐ 19. In conclusion, older age, male gender, presentation symptoms such as fever and dyspnea, low hemoglobin, neutrophilia, lymphopenia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, elevated levels of urea and lactate dehydrogenase were found to be independent risk factors for severe COVID‐19. The pharmacotherapy of COVID‐19 patients in our study was diverse, and the medications were prescribed based on the clinical condition of the patients.