Objective: To determine clinical features and biochemical markers in COVID-19 patients at a tertiary care hospital, in Multan.
Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.
Place and duration of study: Department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Multan, Pakistan, from March to June 2020.
Methodology: Sixty-three cases of all ages admitted in Isolation ward, Combined Military Hospital, Multan with COVID-19 were included. Clinical features like fever, cough and shortness of breath were recorded. Blood sample was collected in plain tube for biochemical features like serum albumin, ferritin, AST, LDH, CRP and urea, which were analysed in Pathology Department of the Hospital. Association of the clinical features and these biochemical markers were determined.
Results: In 63 patients, only one (1.6%) patient was between 1 to 12 years, 42 (66.7 %) belonged to 13 to 45 years while 20 (31.7%) patients were between 46 to 95 years. Mean age was 41.39+15.68 years. Forty-eight (76.2%) patients were males and 15 (23.8%) females. Thirteen (20.6%) patients presented with fever, 14 (22.2%) had productive cough and only 3 (4.8%) patients were aware of known history of contact. Median (IQR) value of serum ferritin, LDH, albumin, AST, CRP and urea were 176.5 (252) ng/ml, 284 (96) IU/L, 42 (7) g/L, 28 (22) U/L, 3.9 (11) mg/L and 4.25 (1.6) mmol/L, respectively.
Conclusion: Pakistani patients with COVID-19 disease showed variable pattern of clinical features. Specific biochemical markers, particularly serum ferritin, may help in diagnosis. Key Words: Covid-19, Clinical features, Biochemical features, Multan, Pakistan.