The correlation of clinical, radiological and laboratory findings of patients at admission in the Emergency Department (ED) with clinical severity and risk of mortality was investigated. Adult coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients hospitalized in March 2020 in Desio Hospital, Lombardy, were retrospectively included in the study, and categorized in terms of disease severity and adverse outcome. Out of the 175 patients enrolled, 79% presented one or more comorbidities, with cardiovascular disease being the most frequent (62%). More than half of the patients showed lymphocytopenia and 20% thrombocytopenia. The patients in the severe group presented higher absolute neutrophil count (ANC), C-reactive protein (CRP), AST, LDH, procalcitonin (PCT) and BUN values compared to the non-severe group (p < .05). Increased odds of mortality associated with older age (OR = 22.43; 95% CI 5.22-96.27), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) ratio < 200 (OR = 4.97; 95% CI 1.55-15.84), clinical severity (OR = 21.32; 95% CI 2.27-200.13), creatinine > 106.08 µmol/L (OR = 2.87; 95% CI 1.04-7.92) and creatine kinase > 2.90 µkat/L (OR = 3.80; 95% CI 1.31-10.9) were observed on admission (p < .05). The above findings may contribute to identify early risk factors of poor prognosis, and to select the most appropriate management for patients.
Keywords: COVID-19; PaO2/FIO2 ratio; comorbidities; lymphocytopenia; mortality; older age.