Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of fifty-six cases of COVID-19 in Liaoning Province, China

Table 1 Clinical characteristics 56 patients of coronavirus disease 2019

Clinical characteristics, symptoms or signs		Disease severity			Composite endpoint
	All patients, n = 56	Non-severe, n = 45	Severe, n = 11	P value	Yes, n = 5	No, n = 51	P value
Age, median (range), yr	45.0 (21.0-80.0)	45.4 (21.0-80.0)	46.1 (26.0-70.0)	0.689	43.8 (26.0-70.0)	45.6 (21.0-80.0)	0.601
Age groups, n (%)
0-14 yr	0/56 (0.0)	0/45 (0.0)	0/11 (0.0)	0.780	0/5 (0.0)	0/51 (0.0)	0.280
15-49 yr	35/56 (21.0-49.0)	29/45 (21.0-49.0)	6/11 (26.0-45.0)	-	4/5 (26.0-45.0)	31/51 (21.0-49.0)	-
50-64 yr	15/56 (50.0-64.0)	11/45 (50.0-64.0)	4/11 (50.0-57.0)	-	0/5 (0.0)	15/51 (50.0-64.0)	-
≥ 65 yr	6/56 (66.0-80.0)	5/45 (66.0-80.0)	1/11 (70.0)	-	1/5 (70.0)	5/51 (66.0-80.0)	-
Female sex, n (%)	32/56 (57.1)	24/45 (53.3)	8/11 (72.7)	0.319	3/5 (60.0)	29/51 (56.9)	1.000
Smoking history, n (%)
Never smokers	45/56 (80.3)	38/45 (84.4)	7/11 (63.6)	0.170	4/5 (80.0)	41/51 (80.3)	0.450
Long-term smoking	6/56 (10.7)	4/45 (8.9)	2/11 (18.2)	-	0/5 (0.0)	6/51 (11.8)	-
Occasionally smoking	5/56 (8.9)	3/45 (6.7)	2/11 (18.2)	-	1/5 (20.0)	4/51 (7.8)	-
Exposure to source of transmission within 14 d, n (%)
Local residents of Wuhan	6/56 (10.7)	4/45 (8.9)	2/11 (18.2)	0.129	2/5 (40.0)	4/51 (7.8)	0.125
Wuhan short-term tourism history	17/56 (30.4)	12/45 (26.7)	5/11 (45.4)	0.280	1/5 (20.0)	16/51 (31.4)	1.000
NCP patient exposure history	27/56 (48.2)	24/45 (51.1)	3/11 (27.3)	0.181	1/5 (20.0)	26/51 (50.9)	0.353
Contacted NCP patients and confirmed diagnosis	5/56 (8.9)	4/45 (8.9)	1/11 (9.1)	1.000	1/5 (20.0)	4/51 (7.8)	0.385
No explicit exposure history	1/56 (1.8)	1/45 (2.2)	0/11 (0.0)	1.000	0/5 (0.0)	1/51 (1.9)	1.000
Symptoms or signs, n (%)
Fever	42/56 (75.0)	31/45 (68.9)	11/11 (100.0)	0.049	5/5 (100.0)	37/51 (72.5)	0.316
Temperature on admission, °C	37.4 (36.1-39.8)	37.3 (36.1-39.8)	38.3 (36.7-39.7)	-	38.3 (37.7-38.9)	37.0 (36.1-39.8)	-
< 37.5	22/56 (39.3)	21/45 (46.7)	1/11 (9.1)	0.000	0/5 (0.0)	29/51 (56.8)	0.007
37.5-38.0	22/56 (39.3)	21/45 (46.7)	1/11 (9.1)	-	1/5 (20.0)	13/51 (25.5)	-
38.1-39.0	10/56 (17.8)	2/45 (4.4)	8/11 (72.7)	-	4/5 (80.0)	8/51 (15.7)	-
> 39.0	2/56 (2.5)	1/45 (2.2)	1/11 (9.1)	-	0/5 (0.0)	1/51 (2.0)	-
Highest temperature during hospital admission	37.8 (36.4-39.8)	38.1 (36.4-39.8)	38.4 (37.7-39.8)	0.025	38.5 (37.7-39.8)	38.1 (36.4-39.8)	0.391
< 37.5	18/56 (32.1)	17/45 (37.8)	1/11 (9.1)	0.017	0/5 (0.0)	16/51 (31.4)	0.008
37.5-38.0	12/56 (21.4)	11/45 (24.4)	1/11 (9.1)	-	1/5 (20.0)	11/51 (21.5)	-
38.1-39.0	16/56 (28.6)	9/45 (20.0)	7/11 (63.6)	-	3/5 (60.0)	15/51 (29.4)	-
> 39.0	10/56 (17.8)	8/45 (17.8)	2/11 (18.2)	-	1/5 (20.0)	9/51 (17.6)	-
Fever duration, d	7.0 (0-17)	2.4 (0-17)	11.0 (7-13)	-	10.4 (7-13)	2.8 (0-17)	-
Cough	34/56 (60.7)	29/45 (64.4)	5/11 (45.4)	0.310	4/5 (80.0)	30/51 (58.8)	0.638
Sputum	12/56 (21.4)	6/45 (13.3)	6/11 (54.5)	0.008	4/5 (80.0)	8/51 (15.7)	0.006
Breath shortness	15/56 (26.7)	5/45 (11.1)	10/11 (90.9)	0.000	5/5 (100.0)	10/51 (19.6)	0.001
Sore throat	8/56 (14.2)	6/45 (13.3)	2/11 (18.2)	0.649	1/5 (20.0)	7/51 (13.7)	0.552
Headache	7/56 (12.5)	4/45 (8.9)	3/11 (27.3)	0.128	3/5 (60.0)	4/51 (7.8)	0.011
Myalgia	6/56 (10.7)	3/45 (6.7)	3/11 (27.3)	0.083	3/5 (60.0)	3/51 (5.9)	0.007
Chest pain	4/56 (7.1)	2/45 (4.4)	2/11 (18.2)	0.169	2/5 (40.0)	2/51 (3.9)	0.036
Fatigue	10/56 (17.8)	7/45 (15.5)	3/11 (27.3)	0.393	2/5 (40.0)	8/51 (15.7)	0.214
Diarrhea	3/56 (5.3)	2/45 (4.4)	1/11 (9.1)	0.488	1/5 (20.0)	2/51 (3.9)	0.249
Nausea or vomiting	3/56 (5.3)	2/45 (4.4)	1/11 (9.1)	0.488	1/5 (20.0)	2/51 (3.9)	0.249
Throat congestion	42/56 (75.0)	31/45 (68.9)	11/11 (100.0)	0.049	5/5 (100.0)	37/51 (72.5)	0.316
Thick lung sounds	38/56 (67.8)	27/45 (60.0)	11/11 (100.0)	0.011	5/5 (100.0)	33/51 (64.7)	0.164
Wet and dry rales in the lungs	9/56 (16.1)	5/45 (11.1)	4/11 (36.4)	0.063	5/5 (100.0)	4/51 (7.8)	0.000
Coexisting disorders, n (%)
Any	26/56 (46.4)	18/45 (40.0)	8/11 (72.2)	0.009	5/5 (100)	11/51 (21.5)	0.001
Respiratory diseases	2/56 (3.6)	0/45 (0.0)	2/11 (18.2)	0.036	1/5 (20.0)	1/51 (2.0)	0.172
Diabetes	7/56 (12.5)	6/45 (13.3)	1/11 (9.1)	1.000	0/5 (0.0)	7/51 (13.7)	1.000
Thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism)	3/56 (5.3)	2/45 (4.4)	1/11 (9.1)	0.488	1/5 (20.0)	2/51 (3.9)	0.249
Hypertension	9/56 (16.1)	9/45 (20.0)	0/11 (0.0)	0.180	0/5 (0.0)	9/51 (17.6)	0.580
Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular diseases	4/56 (7.1)	3/45 (6.7)	1/11 (9.1)	1.000	1/5 (20.0)	3/51 (5.9)	0.320
Chronic liver diseases1	10/56 (17.8)	9/45 (20.0)	1/11 (9.1)	0.667	1/5 (20.0)	9/51 (17.6)	1.000
Nervous system disease	3/56 (5.3)	2/45 (4.4)	1/11 (9.1)	0.488	1/5 (20.0)	2/51 (3.9)	0.249
Anal fistula	1/56 (1.8)	0/45 (0.0)	1/11 (9.1)	0.196	0/5 (0.0)	1/51 (2.0)	1.000

¹Chronic liver diseases include hepatitis B virus infection (4 cases), alcoholic liver disease (5 cases), fatty liver (1 case). Data are presented as medians (interquartile ranges, IQR) and n. P values denoted the comparison between non-severe cases and severe cases. NCP: Novel coronavirus pneumonia.

Table 2 Radiographic and laboratory findings of 56 patients of coronavirus disease 2019

Radiographic and laboratory findings		Disease severity			Composite endpoint
	All patients, n = 56	Non-severe, n = 45	Severe, n = 11	P value	Yes, n = 5	No, n = 51	P value
Radiographic findings
Abnormalities on chest CT, n/total n (%)	51/56 (91.1)	40/45 (88.9)	11/11 (100.0)	0.571	5/5 (100.0)	46/51 (90.2)	0.504
Ground-glass opacity	48/56 (85.7)	37/45 (82.2)	11/11 (100.0)	0.333	5/5 (100.0)	43/51 (84.3)	1.00
Patchy shadowing	44/56 (78.6)	33/45 (73.3)	11/11 (100.0)	0.097	5/5 (100.0)	39/51 (76.5)	0.574
Bilateral ground-glass opacity/bilateral patchy shadowing	38/56 (67.8)	27/45 (60.0)	11/11 (100.0)	0.011	5/5 (100.0)	33/51 (64.7)	0.014
Laboratory findings– n/total, n (%)
Blood leukocyte count	5.76 (1.8-16.7)	5.14 (1.8-13.1)	7.62 (2.96-16.7)	0.057	9.42 (3.9-16.7)	5.01 (1.8-13.1)	< 0.001
> 9.5 × 109/L	10/56 (17.8)	6/45 (13.3)	4/11 (36.4)	0.093	2/5 (40.0)	8/51 (15.7)	0.214
< 3.5 × 109/L	14/56 (25.0)	10/45 (22.2%)	4/11 (36.4)	0.439	1/5 (20.0)	13/51 (25.5)	1.000
Neutrophil count	4.2 (1.34-16.08)	3.49 (0.5-11.94)	6.34 (1.77-16.08)	0.036	8.02 (2.4-16.08)	3.37 (0.5-11.94)	< 0.001
< 1.8 × 109/L	12/56 (21.4)	9/45 (20.0)	3/11 (27.3)	0.686	1/5 (20.0)	11/51 (21.5)	1.000
Lymphocyte count	1.09 (0.2-2.1)	1.2 (0.2-2.1)	0.78 (0.2-1.0)	0.008	0.66 (0.2-1.0)	1.2 (0.2-2.1)	< 0.001
< 1.1 × 109/L	44/56 (78.6)	34/45 (75.5)	10/11 (90.9)	0.424	5/5 (100.0)	29/51 (56.8)	0.054
Platelet count	221.4 (40-384)	214.7 (40-382)	241.4 (124-384)	1.000	247.8 (181-384)	215.6 (40-382)	1.000
< 125 × 109/L	8/56 (14.3)	6/45 (13.3)	2/11 (18.2)	0.649	0/5 (0.0)	8/51 (15.7)	1.000
Hemoglobin level, g/dL	144.1 (108-174)	144.6 (108-174)	142.7 (130-162)	0.889	141.2 (130-162)	144.8 (108-174)	0.875
C-reactive protein level	31.9 (0.17-128.32)	25.6 (0.17-128.32)	50.9 (5.43-108.28)	0.047	51.7 (5.43-108.28)	27.7 (0.17-128.32)	0.046
≥ 8 mg/L, n/total, n (%)	32/56 (57.1)	23/45 (51.1)	9/11 (81.8)	0.093	4/5 (80.0)	28/51 (54.9)	0.379
Lactose dehydrogenase	563.1 (385-882)	517.2 (385-882)	700.7 (581-820)	0.048	720 (628-820)	529 (385-882)	0.047
≥ 618 U/L, n/total, n (%)	18/56 (32.1)	8/45 (17.8)	10/11 (90.9)	0.000	5/5 (100.0)	13/51 (25.5)	0.002
Procalcitonin level	0.05 (0.04-0.13)	0.05 (0.04-0.11)	0.06 (0.04-0.13)	1.000	0.06 (0.04-0.1)	0.05 (0.04-0.13)	1.000
ALT > 40 U/L, n/total n (%)	13/56 (23.2)	5/45 (11.1)	8/11 (72.7)	< 0.001	5/5 (100.0)	8/51 (15.7)	< 0.001
AST > 40 U/L, n /total, n (%)	16/56 (28.6)	8/45 (17.8)	8/11 (72.7)	0.001	3/5 (60.0)	8/51 (15.7)	0.047
Albumin < 35 g/L, n /total, n (%)	28/56 (50.0)	18/45 (40.0)	10/11 (90.9)	0.005	5/5 (100.0)	23/51 (45.1)	0.051
Creatinine kinase > 22 mmol/L, n/total, n (%)	18/56 (32.1)	13/45 (28.9)	5/11 (54.4)	0.305	3/5 (60.0)	15/51 (29.4)	0.314
Creatinine kinase ≥ 170 U/L, n/total, n (%)	8/56 (14.3)	4/45 (8.9)	4/11 (36.3)	0.057	2/5 (40.0)	6/51 (11.8)	0.144
Blood urea nitrogen ≥ 6.1 mmol/L, n/total, n (%)	3/56 (5.3)	1/45 (2.2)	2/11 (18.2)	0.095	1/5 (20.0)	2/51 (3.9)	0.249
Creatinine ≥ 110 mmol/L, n/total, n (%)	2/56 (3.6)	1/45 (2.2)	1/11 (9.1)	0.357	1/5 (20.0)	1/51 (2.0)	0.172
D-dimer ≥ 0.55 mg/L, n/total, n (%)	12/56 (21.4)	20/45 (44.4)	7/11 (63.6)	0.322	3/5 (60.0)	25/51 (49.0)	1.000
Co-infection
Other viruses	0/56 (0.0)	0/45 (0.0)	0/11 (0.0)	-	0/5 (0.0)	0/51 (0.0)	-
Bacterial	1/56 (1.8)	0/45 (0.0)	1/11 (9.1)	0.196	0/5 (0.0)	1/51 (2.0)	1.000
Fungus	0/56 (0.0)	0/45 (0.0)	0/11 (0.0)	-	0/5 (0.0)	0/51 (0.0)	-
Mycoplasma pneumoniae	2/56 (3.6)	2/45 (4.4)	0/11 (0.0)	1.000	0/5 (0.0)	2/51 (3.9)	1.000

Lymphopenia was defined as a lymphocyte count of less than 1.1 × 10⁹/L, and thrombocytopenia was defined as a lymphocyte count of less than 125 × 10⁹/L. The P values denoted the comparison between non-severe cases and severe cases. ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; CT: Computed tomography.

Table 3 Complications, treatment, and outcomes 56 patients of coronavirus disease 2019

		Disease severity			Composite endpoint
	All patients, n = 56	Non-severe, n = 45	Severe, n = 11	P value	Yes, n = 5	No, n = 51	P value
Complications, n (%)
Pneumonia	51/56 (91.1)	40/45 (88.9)	11/11 (100.0)	0.571	5/5 (100.0)	46/51 (90.2)	1.00
ARDS	2/56 (3.9)	0/45 (0.0)	2/11 (18.2)	0.036	2/5 (40.0)	0/51 (0.0)	0.006
Acute lung injury	4/56 (7.1)	1/45 (2.2)	3/11 (27.3)	0.026	1/5 (20.0)	3/51 (5.9)	1.00
Acute myocardial injury	2/56 (3.9)	0/45 (0.0)	2/11 (18.2)	0.056	1/5 (20.0)	1/51 (1.9)	0.172
Acute liver injury	13/56 (23.2)	7/45 (15.5)	6/11 (54.5)	0.013	3/5 (60.0)	10/51 (19.6)	0.076
Treatment, n (%)
Oxygen therapy	25/56 (44.6)	14/45 (31.1)	11/11 (100.0)	0.000	5/5 (100.0)	20/51 (39.2)	0.014
Mechanical ventilation
Invasive	4/56 (7.1)	0/45 (0.0)	4/11 (36.4)	0.001	4/5 (80.0)	0/51 (0.0)	0.000
Non-invasive	1/56 (1.8)	0/45 (0.0)	1/11 (9.1)	0.196	1/5 (20.0)	0/51 (0.0)	0.089
Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation	1/56 (1.8)	0/45 (0.0)	1/11 (9.1)	0.196	1/5 (20.0)	0/51 (0.0)	0.089
Antiviral therapy	56/56 (100.0)	45/45 (100.0)	11/11 (100.0)	-	5/5 (100.0)	51/51 (100.0)	-
Administration of antibiotics	22/56 (39.3)	13/45 (28.9)	9/11 (81.8)	0.002	5/5 (100.0)	17/51 (33.3)	0.000
Administration of glucocorticoid	10/56 (17.8)	3/45 (6.7)	7/11 (63.6)	0.000	4/5 (80.0)	6/51 (11.7)	0.003
Use of intravenous immunoglobin	7/56 (12.5)	2/45 (4.4)	5/11 (45.4)	0.002	5/5 (100.0)	2/51 (3.9)	0.000
Clinical outcomes, n (%)
Discharge from hospital	21/56 (37.5)	20/45 (44.4)	1/11 (9.1)	0.039	0/5 (0.0)	21/51 (41.2)	0.045
Death	0/56 (0.0)	0/45 (0.0)	0/11 (0.0)	-	0/5 (0.0)	0/5 (0.0)	-
Staying in hospital	35/56 (62.5)	25/45(55.5)	10/11 (90.9)	0.039	5/5 (100.0)	30/51 (58.8)	0.145

P values denoted the comparison between non-severe cases and severe cases. ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome.