Factors Affecting Time To Resolution Of Signs And Symptoms In Symptomatic Covid-19 Patients Reporting To The Public Health Unit Of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital: A Historical Cohort Study

Abstract

Management of positive COVID-19 patients who report to the Public Health Unit are discharged from the clinic after 14 days and are asked to report to work immediately especially for staff. So, it has become very important to understand the clinical features of COVID-19 and the time to resolution of signs and symptoms. The main objective of the study was to determine the symptoms and signs found among COVID-19 patients reporting to the Public Health Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the time to resolution of these symptoms and signs and determinants. A historical cohort study involving COVID-19 cases reporting to the Public Health Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from May to July, 2021 was employed. Cox proportional-hazards regression model was fitted. A statistical significance was defined at P<0.05. All analyses were done using STATA version 16.1 software. A total of 148 COVID-19 participants were included in this study with a mean age of 36.6 years (SD±12.6). Hypertension was the commonest comorbid condition reported and the topmost symptoms reported was General Malaise. The median duration of symptom resolution of COVID-19 from the onset of symptoms is 7.2 days (95% CI: 1.0 – 14 days). It was estimated that 50% of the participants had their symptoms resolved after 4 days from the day of diagnosis. None of the factors were predictors of time to resolution of symptoms among participants in the study. Early diagnosis and detection of COVID-19 especially in healthcare workers and other key workers in constant contact with the public is very crucial as they are the frontline workers when epidemic strikes. Our study revealed that the overall median time to resolution of COVID-19 symptoms from the onset of symptoms is 7.2 days. Hence, an average of 1 week were required to cure or discharge patients or staff with symptoms of SAR-CoV-2 in Ghana.