SARS-CoV-2 study participants were predominantly males (73%), and their median (IQR) age was 60 (51 to 70) years.
All patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia according to World Health Organization interim guidance (11) with SARS symptoms characterized by dyspnea, increased respiratory frequency, decreased blood oxygen saturation, and need for oxygen support therapy for at least 6 L/min. Throat swab samples were obtained from all patients at admission and tested
using real-time reverse transcriptase??polymerase chain reaction assays as previously described to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection