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Discov Med
. Jul-Aug 2021;32(165):39-45.
Clinical Features and Outcomes of Patients with COVID-19 After Discharge: A Retrospective, Multi-center Study
Qun Zhang # 1 2 , Li Zhu # 3 4 , Jian Wang # 5 , Longgen Liu # 6 , Yun Zhao # 7 , Leyang Xue 8 , Yang Li 9 , Xuebing Yan 10 , Juan Cheng 11 , Tiamin Xu 6 , Jiacheng Liu 1 , Jie Zhan 12 , Ruifei Xue 12 , Xiang-An Zhao 13 , Rui Huang 5 14 , Chuanwu Zhu 3 4 14 , Chao Wu 1 5 14
Affiliations
- PMID: 35219355
Abstract
Background: The follow-up data of discharged patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) have not yet been fully analyzed and reported. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features, test results, and outcomes of COVID-19 patients after discharge.
Methods: 149 COVID-19 patients with follow-up data after discharge were included. Post-hospitalization data related to clinical features and outcomes were obtained by following the patients up to 6 weeks.
Results: The COVID-19 patients were followed for a median of 28.0 days (range of 22 days to 42 days) after discharge from hospital. At the end of follow-up, four patients (2.7%) still had cough. The proportions of leukopenia and lymphopenia were 7.4% and 4.7%, respectively. The proportions of ALT, AST, and Cr abnormalities were 26.2%, 6.0%, and 0%, respectively. Abnormal chest CT was detected in 94 (63.1%) patients, including 14 (9.4%) unilateral pneumonia and 80 (53.7%) bilateral pneumonia. However, the proportion of chest CT abnormality significantly decreased compared to that at the time of admission.
Conclusions: One month after discharge, few patients with COVID-19 had clinical symptoms; however, a substantial proportion of COVID-19 patients harbored abnormal laboratory and radiological examinations. Moderately long-term medical follow-up would justifiably benefit COVID-19 patients after discharge.
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