Sociodemographic and clinical characterization of severe acute respiratory syndrome by COVID-19 in Pernambuco, Brazil, 2020

Abstract

Objectives: To characterize the notified cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) due to COVID-19 in the State of Pernambuco (Brazil) in 2020, to verify which risk factors are related to SARS conditions, to verify which are the most frequent symptoms of COVID-19 with SARS and to analyze the relationship between hospitalization and mortality due to SARS triggered by COVID-19 with demographic and clinical variables. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study of SARS cases due to COVID-19. The study was carried out with cases notified to the State Department of Health of Pernambuco, in the year 2020. All cases included in this study were confirmed through laboratory tests. For analysis of categorical variables, the chi-square test was used. A significance level of 5% was considered. Results: Until December 31, 2020, 222,166 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Pernambuco. Of these, 30,379 met the SARS diagnostic criteria, making up 13.67% of the total notifications in the state. There was identification of fever in 61.3% (18,624) of cases, cough in 78.9% (21,108), dyspnea in 57.91% (17,594) and oxygen saturation lower than 95% in 10.53% (10,530). Age over 40 years, male gender, presence of comorbidities and respiratory symptoms characteristic of SARS were factors that may be associated with higher frequencies of hospitalization and death. Conclusion: The outcomes hospitalization and death had significantly higher frequencies in individuals over 40 years of age, male, with comorbidities, fever, cough, dyspnea and oxygen saturation lower than 95%.