Features of 16,749 hospitalised UK patients with COVID-19 using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol

Docherty, Annemarie B.; Harrison, Ewen M.; Green, Christopher A.; Hardwick, Hayley E.; Pius, Riinu; Norman, Lisa; Holden, Karl A.; Read, Jonathan M.; Dondelinger, Frank; Carson, Gail; Merson, Laura; Lee, James; Plotkin, Daniel; Sigfrid, Louise; Halpin, Sophie; Jackson, Clare; Gamble, Carrol; Horby, Peter W.; Nguyen-Van-Tam, Jonathan S.; Dunning, Jake; Openshaw, Peter J.M.; Baillie, J. Kenneth; Semple, Malcolm Gracie

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the clinical features of patients with severe COVID-19 in the UK. Design: Prospective observational cohort study with rapid data gathering and near real-time analysis, using a pre-approved questionnaire adopted by the WHO. Setting: 166 UK hospitals between 6th February and 18th April 2020. Participants: 16,749 people with COVID-19. Interventions: No interventions were performed, but with consent samples were taken for research purposes. Many participants were co-enrolled in other interventional studies and clinical trials. Results: The median age was 72 years [IQR 57, 82; range 0, 104], the median duration of symptoms before admission was 4 days [IQR 1,8] and the median duration of hospital stay was 7 days [IQR 4,12]. The commonest comorbidities were chronic cardiac disease (29%), uncomplicated diabetes (19%), non-asthmatic chronic pulmonary disease (19%) and asthma (14%); 47% had no documented reported comorbidity. Increased age and comorbidities including obesity were associated with a higher probability of mortality. Distinct clusters of symptoms were found: 1. respiratory (cough, sputum, sore throat, runny nose, ear pain, wheeze, and chest pain); 2. systemic (myalgia, joint pain and fatigue); 3. enteric (abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea). Overall, 49% of patients were discharged alive, 33% have died and 17% continued to receive care at date of reporting. 17% required admission to High Dependency or Intensive Care Units; of these, 31% were discharged alive, 45% died and 24% continued to receive care at the reporting date. Of those receiving mechanical ventilation, 20% were discharged alive, 53% died and 27% remained in hospital. Conclusions: We present the largest detailed description of COVID-19 in Europe, demonstrating the importance of pandemic preparedness and the need to maintain readiness to launch research studies in response to outbreaks.

Citation

Docherty, A. B., Harrison, E. M., Green, C. A., Hardwick, H. E., Pius, R., Norman, L., …Semple, M. G. Features of 16,749 hospitalised UK patients with COVID-19 using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol

• Other Type: Other
• Deposit Date: Jul 18, 2020
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.23.20076042
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4373135
• Additional Information: This is a medRxiv preprint.