Background
The global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has claimed 17 lac deaths and infected populations disproportionately across the world. Rural population was in the high-risk category regarding prevalence and mortality, as there are high-risk patients such as elderly, comorbid patients, lack of health care facilities, and poor rural communications, all being contributing factors. So, the objective of the present study was to observe the relation of locality and duration of hospital stay with the outcome in our context.
Materials and methods
The study was conducted in a COVID Unit of Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital, Chattogram, Bangladesh. A total of 980 patients’ data were taken and analyzed from early June to August 2020, and eight patients’ data were excluded owing to incomplete records. Suspected and confirmed cases were detected according to RT PCR report. All demographic data, area of locality, and outcome were recorded and analyzed by software SPSS 20.
Results
Among 972 cases, 24.4% (=237) were found to be RT PCR positive, whereas 75.6% (=735) were treated as suspected cases. Most patients belonged to (74.4%, =723) an urban area, whereas (25.6%, =249) were from a rural area. Overall, 52 (21.94%) patients were found to be RT PCR positive from the rural area and rest were from the urban area. Death rate was 12.75% (=124). Most patients stayed less than 5 days at the hospital (42.07%, =409). Most were suspected cases (82.2%, =336), and the rest were positive cases (17.8%, =73). Death rate was almost equal (13.92%, =33) among RT PCR positive cases (=237 cases) in compare with 12.38% (=91) among suspected cases. Death rate was lower in the rural area (29.83%, =37) in contrary to in the urban area (70.17%, =87). Most deaths were in the early hospital stay group, which were related to diseases severity, delayed attendance to hospital, and early discharge on request.
Conclusion
As COVID-19 is a new disease, new experimental treatment options were frequently used and regularly data was changing and accepted across the globe. As covid 19 mortality is more in elder group of populations, so we should accentuate the rural population, including elderly comorbid patients should be thoroughly screened, referred early to the hospital, cautiously discharged, and also ensure their regular follow-up visits after discharge to improve the outcome and reduce the mortality.