Results
Between March 2020 and November 2020, a total of 525 patients with
COVID-19 PCR positive (n=504; 96.0%) or PCR negative and CT positive
(n=21; 4.0%) were included in the study from the previously determined
FHCs. Demographic and baseline characteristics were compared between
outpatient, hospitalized, ICU, and dead patients (Table 1). While the
most common complaint in outpatients was fatigue, the most common
complaint in patients admitted to the hospital or ICU or who died was
cough. Cough, fever, and shortness of breath were more common in
patients who were hospitalized or in the ICU or who died compared to
outpatients (p < 0.01) (Table 1). Education level, employment
status and occupation data were not included in the analyzes because the
relevant data were not available for all of the study population.
The COVID-19 treatment approach varied in time from March 2020, to
November 2020 (Figure 1). While in April 2020 the predominant treatment
was hydroxychloroquine, by November 2020 the predominant treatment was
favipiravir according to guidelines of Turkish Ministry of Health.
Considering the mortality, ICU admission and hospitalization rates by
month, the highest mortality rate was seen in June 2020 with 4.8%. The
highest rate of hospitalization and ICU admission was seen in March
2020; 92.9% and 14.3%, respectively (Table 2).
Increasing age was associated with an increased probability of
hospitalization (p<0.05), ICU admission, and mortality
(p<0.01). In addition, the presence of thoracic CT findings
increased the probability of hospitalization 21 times
(p<0.01), polypharmacy increased the probability of
hospitalization by two times (p<0.05). Those with thoracic CT
findings were 18 times more likely to be admitted to the ICU than those
without (p<0.01). Being married was associated with a reduced
probability of ICU admission (p<0.05) (Table 3).
The number of patients with asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) was 48 (Table 1). In 62.5% of these patients, COVID-19 thoracic
CT findings were positive. Asthma/COPD was associated with developing
thoracic CT findings; x2(1) = 23.667;
p<0.01.
There was no statistically significant difference in developing COVID-19
thoracic CT findings between never smoked/quit smoking and being a
smoker (p>0.05). The same was true when non-smokers were
compared with quitting/smoking (p>0.05).
The effects of medications used in the previous 6 months before
contracting COVID-19 on hospitalization, ICU admission or dead were
analyzed using the logistic regression models adjusted for age and
comorbidity. DM medications increased the probability of hospitalization
3 times (p<0.05) (Table 4), while CCBs increased the
probability of admission in the ICU 155 times (p<0.01) (Table
5), and the probability of mortality 295 times (p < 0.01)
(Table 6). When DM drugs are subdivided into metformin, sulfonylureas,
meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, α-glucosidase inhibitors, GLP-1
agonists, DPP4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, and insulin, in the
logistic regression model adjusted for age and comorbidity, there was no
statistically significant difference between the subgorups of DM
medications in terms of effects on hospitalization, ICU admission or
mortality (p>0.05).
Regarding COVID-19 pharmacological treatments, according to the
chi-square analysis that included only hospitalized patients, different
COVID-19 pharmacological treatments were not associated with ICU
admission and mortality (p>0.05).