2.1. Patient data and selection
The open-accessed dataset used in the current research from a
cross-sectional study (6) includes the demographic and symptomatological
characteristics of 223 COVID-19 patients treated at the Sisli Hamidiye
Etfal Training and Research Hospital of the University of Health
Sciences between March 10 and April 21, 2020 (7). The public dataset can
be achieved from the web address ofhttp://dx.doi.org/10.17632/w9tjhj8jy6.1.
From the beginning to the diagnosis of general and otolaryngologic
symptoms of COVID-19, prevalence, seriousness, length, and time were
determined. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in all patients included in
this dataset in the swab specimens. The dataset encapsulates general
patient characteristics (age, gender, and comorbidity), hospitalization
status, dates, and swab specimen collection results, computerized
tomography results, and drugs used for COVID-19. Five
otorhinolaryngologists and two infectious diseases specialists performed
the surveys. All the patients involved in the study gave informed
consent. Detailed records of the patients (113 males, 110 females) who
had SARS-CoV-2 RNA found in their nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab
specimens by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
were examined in the current study. During the study period, all
patients suspected of having COVID-19 were treated in compliance with
the Turkish Ministry of Health Study Board’s interim guidelines. After a
brief training following real interim instructions, resident or
attending doctors obtained nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs.
Specimens were tested in the General Directorate of Public Health
Microbiology Reference Laboratory for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA via
Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (RT-PCR and nucleic acid sequence
analysis if necessary). Detailed information on the research design and
protocol can be obtained from the related study (6). The attributes
considered in the present work are summarized in Table 1.