Clinical and laboratory findings of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Main Authors: Amar Hassan Khamis, Mohamed Jaber, Aida Azar, Feras AlQahtani, Khaled Bishawi, Ahmed Shanably
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-09-01
• Series: Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
• Subjects: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Clinical features; Epidemic; Meta-analysis
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664620306033

Background/purpose: The aim of this study was to systematically review all COVID-19 publications to summarize the clinical features, assess comorbidities, prevalence, and disease outcomes. Methods: Included were all COVID-19 published studies between January 1 to July 20, 2020. The random effect model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Publication bias was assessed using the funnel plot for the standard error by logit event. Results: The mean age of the patients was 46.8 years (95% CI, 41.0–52.6) and males comprised 54.0% (95% CI, 51.3–56.7). Total co-morbidities prevalence was 29.5% (95% CI, 19.0–36.6), with diabetes mellitus being the most prevalent 13.8% (95% CI, 8.7–21.1), followed by hypertension 11.7% (95% CI, 5.7–22.6), and cardiovascular disease 9.7% (95% CI, 6.5–14.2). The most common clinical manifestations were fever, 82.0% (95% CI, 67.7–90.8), cough 54.3% (95% CI, 45.5–62.9), fatigue 30.2% (95% CI, 23.3–38.1), sputum 28.5% (95% CI, 21.2–37.2), sore throat 21.7% (95% CI, 14.6–31.0), and headache 11.0% (95% CI, 7.9–15.2). The most common COVID-19 serious complications were RNA Anemia 98.2% (95% CI, 96.2–99.2), hospitalization 83.7% (95% CI, 76.0–89.3), bilateral pneumonia 70.9% (95% CI, 58.2–81.0); of those hospitalized 43.5% (95% CI, 24.9–64.2) were discharged. Fatality accounted for 10.5% (95% CI 6.8–16.1). Conclusion: Patients infected with COVID-19 coronavirus showed a wide range of clinical presentation with non-specific symptoms.