Trends in Clinical Symptoms of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the Northwest of Iran

Background & objectives: Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses and constitute a subfamily of Coronaviridae ranging from the common cold virus to viruses causing more acute diseases such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Symptom), MERSE (Middle East Respiratory Symptom) and COVID-19 inflicting human respiratory system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the trend of changes in the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 disease during the epidemic period in patients admitted to hospitals in Ardabil province. Methods: In this cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study, all patients with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 who were referred to hospitals in Ardabil province were studied. The information was extracted from the hospital data registration system of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences and was analyzed in two time periods between 20th February to 10th July 2020. Chi-square and Fisher tests in SPSS 16 software were used to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 symptoms and time periods. Results: The total number of hospitalizations during the study was 5541, which after PCR test was positive for 2506 patients (45.22%). Patients were examined at two different time intervals. The first time period from the beginning of the disease in Ardabil province to 4/20/2020 and the second time period from 5/1/2020 to 10/7/2020 were studied. According to the results of this study, the prevalence of stomachache and bruising had almost doubled between the first and second time (p<0.05). However, the prevalence of general weakness, confusion or irritability, runny nose, chest pain and conjunctival redness were significantly reduced during this period (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that at the beginning of the epidemic, respiratory symptoms had reported in most patients. Over time, some other symptoms, such as gastrointestinal, olfactory, and taste symptoms, had increased, but respiratory symptoms in COVID-19 were still severe and directly affected hospitalization and mortality.