COVID -19 and its Perceived Environmental Risk Factors in Patients with Respiratory symptoms

Abstract

Diseases that involve the respiratory tract often manifest with respiratory symptoms such as cough, fever and difficulty in breathing. We evaluated the symptoms and some perceived environmental risk factors associated with COVID-19 in patients with respiratory symptoms. This was an observational record-based study, longitudinal in design. Records of 431 patients that presented with respiratory symptoms that were managed from 14th March to 14th October 2020 in Federal Medical Centre, Nguru were used for this study. Out of the 431 study participants, 62 (14.4%) had COVID -19. The mean age of the studied participants was 46.23 ± 19.37 (95% CI 44.4 – 48. 06). The mean age of the COVID-19 cases was 46.97 ± 17.22, it was similar to 46.15  ± 19.23 in others condition manifesting with respiratory symptoms (P = 0.75). Coryza was more common in COVID-19, than other conditions (p < 0.001). Contact with confirmed COVID-19 case (s), OR = 5.63, 95% CI (2.91 – 10.94) was significantly associated with COVID-19. Multiple respiratory symptom > 4 was associated with COVID -19, df = 4, x2 = 11.1, P = 0.025).  COVID -19 detection rate in patients with respiratory symptoms obtained in this study is 14.4%. It was particularly seen in those that presented early, with multiple symptoms and contacts with patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2.