Clinical Course and Outcomes of 3,060 Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Korea, January–May 2020
10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e280
- Author:
Ho Kyung SUNG
1
;
Jin Yong KIM
;
Jeonghun HEO
;
Haesook SEO
;
Young soo JANG
;
Hyewon KIM
;
Bo Ram KOH
;
Neungsun JO
;
Hong Sang OH
;
Young Mi BAEK
;
Kyung-Hwa PARK
;
Jeung A SHON
;
Min-Chul KIM
;
Joon Ho KIM
;
Hyun-Ha CHANG
;
Yukyung PARK
;
Yu Min KANG
;
Dong Hyun LEE
;
Dong Hyun OH
;
Hyun Jung PARK
;
Kyoung-Ho SONG
;
Eun Kyoung LEE
;
Hyeongseok JEONG
;
Ji Yeon LEE
;
Ja-Young KO
;
Jihee CHOI
;
Eun Hwa RYU
;
Ki-hyun CHUNG
;
Myoung-don OH
;
Author Information
1. National Emergency Medical Center, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2020;35(30):e280-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:0
-
Abstract:
Background:The fatality rate of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) varies among countries owing to demographics, patient comorbidities, surge capacity of healthcare systems, and the quality of medical care. We assessed the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of the epidemic in Korea.
Methods:Using a modified World Health Organization clinical record form, we obtained clinical data for 3,060 patients with COVID-19 treated at 55 hospitals in Korea. Disease severity scores were defined as: 1) no limitation of daily activities; 2) limitation of daily activities but no need for supplemental oxygen; 3) supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula; 4) supplemental oxygen via facial mask; 5) non-invasive mechanical ventilation; 6) invasive mechanical ventilation; 7) multi-organ failure or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy; and 8) death. Recovery was defined as a severity score of 1 or 2, or discharge and release from isolation.
Results:The median age of the patients was 43 years of age; 43.6% were male. The median time from illness onset to admission was 5 days. Of the patients with a disease severity score of 3–4 on admission, 65 (71.5%) of the 91 patients recovered, and 7 (7.7%) died due to illness by day 28. Of the patients with disease severity scores of 5–7, 7 (19.5%) of the 36 patients recovered, and 8 (22.2%) died due to illness by day 28. None of the 1,324 patients who were < 50 years of age died; in contrast, the fatality rate due to illness by day 28 was 0.5% (2/375), 0.9% (2/215), 5.8% (6/104), and 14.0% (7/50) for the patients aged 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and ≥ 80 years of age, respectively.
Conclusion:In Korea, almost all patients of < 50 years of age with COVID-19 recovered without supplemental oxygen. In patients of ≥ 50 years of age, the fatality rate increased with age, reaching 14% in patients of ≥ 80 years of age.
