A total of 344 patients were included in the final analysis, 45 of whom needed oxygen support 24-hours after admission and 299 stayed stable. There were 188 (54.7%) males, and the average age of the cohort was 52.9±16.8 years. The median time from the onset of illness to admission was 3 days (IQR, 2-5) and the median hospital stay was 23 days (IQR, 18-31). Approximately 1 of 3 patients had comorbidities, of which hypertension, DM, CHD, CVD, COPD and cancer were present in 78 (22.7%), 38 (11.0%), 18 (5.2%), 9 (2.6%), 9 (2.6%), and 9 (2.6%) patients, respectively. The most common symptoms on admission were fever (78.5%) and cough (73.3%), followed by increased phlegm/sputum production (45.3%) and dyspnea (11.3%). A total of 15 (4.4%) patients eventually died.
The inclusion criteria for enrollment into the study were: (1) age>=18 years; (2) positive result of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swab specimens tested by real-time polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay; (3) Meet diagnostic criteria of COVID-19 by WHO10; (4) with complete clinical data; (5) No aggressive treatment required upon the first 24 hours after admission (Because patients who require aggressive treatment upon the first 24 hours after admission are generally critical patients). The exclusion criteria were those needed high flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation on admission or within 24 hours after admission, or other special health conditions that required special medical intervention.