Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
8th Eurasian Congress of Emergency Medicine & 18th Emergency Medicine Congress of Turkey & 17th World Interactive Network Focused on Critical Ultrasound Congress, Antalya, Türkiye, 1 - 04 Aralık 2022, ss.272-273
OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 infection is a viral disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. It classically presents with upper respiratory tract
symptoms. As the virus mutated over time, alterations in the symptoms were also observed. Additionally, polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) positivity can be observed in patients without symptoms. We aimed to evaluate the compliance of the
complaints of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in our emergency department with the classic case definition specified in
the current guidelines of the Turkiye Ministry of Health for COVID-19.
MATERIAL and METHODS: Our study method is retrospectively, and observational. We evaluated the patients in Eskisehir
Osmangazi University Hospital, Eskisehir City Hospital, and Eskisehir Yunus Emre State Hospital Emergency Departments
between March 2020-December 2020. We evaluated the complaints and clinical features of patients aged 18 years and older
who were found positive for COVID-19 with ribonucleic acid (RNA) PCR test sample with a swab from their mouth and/or
nose. Vulnerable groups were excluded from the study. We have analyzed the patient's demographic characteristics which
include age, sex and comorbidities, vital parameters, laboratory values, and clinical outcomes due to symptoms being typical
(e.g. respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, dyspnea, headache, throat ache, runny nose, myalgias, extreme tiredness and newly
occurring loss of taste and smell, diarrhea) or atypical (other than typical complaints). Patient information was gathered from
the hospital database.
RESULT: 5274 patients had positive COVID-19 PCR test during the study’s period. 2763 (52,4%) were male. 4262 (80.8%)
patients presented with typical symptoms. The most common presenting symptom was dyspnea in 2041 (38.6%) patients.
735 (13.9%) patients were asymptomatic. Hypertension was the most encountered comorbidity (n=1262). Table 1 contains
patients’ clinical characteristics according to the typical-atypical symptoms in patients with COVID-19. A statistically
significant difference was found in ED outcomes need of hospitalization and internal care unit between the patients who
presented with typical and atypical symptoms (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: About twenty percent of patients with COVID-19 presented to the emergency department with atypical
symptoms. Although the clinical outcomes of patients with atypical complaints are better than those with typical complaints,
isolation measures and immunization studies should not be ignored. Particularly in comorbid patients with shortness of
breath and upper respiratory tract symptoms, hospitalization and treatment needs should be carefully evaluated in the
upcoming period.