Out-of-Hospital Cohort Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients with Mild Symptoms in Korea: an Experience from a Single Community Treatment Center

Park, Peong Gang; Kim, Chang Hyup; Heo, Yoon; Kim, Tae Suk; Park, Chan Woo; Kim, Choong-Hyo

Three hundred and nine patients were admitted on March 9, all of whom were confirmed with COVID-19 but were isolated in their home due to the shortage of hospital beds. 124 (40.1%) of them were male. Their median age was 31 (range: 7-77) and 12 patients (3.9%) were 18 years old or younger. 125 (40.4%) patients used solitary rooms and 184 (59.6%) used shared space with a separate room, of whom 32 (10.4%) were relatives. The patients were admitted to the CTC after a median of 7 (range: 3-14) days since the diagnosis of COVID-19. Patients presented with various symptoms such as cough (50 patients, 16.2%), rhinorrhea (49 patients, 15.9%), sputum (39 patients, 12.7%), sore throat (24 patients 7.8%), and chest discomfort (12 patients, 3.9%). 176 (57.1%) patients were asymptomatic at the time of admission. Psychiatric symptoms including depression, anxiety, and insomnia increased as the treatment progressed and we introduced remote counseling services using the mobile application in cooperation with psychiatrists at Kangwon National University Hospital. Other unusual symptoms include epistaxis and musculoskeletal pain. There were no reports of symptoms requiring emergent medical care such as altered mental status, syncope, or severe dyspnea. 7 (2.3%) of the patients were transferred to the hospital after a median 3.5 (range: 0-7) days of admission. Two patients due to pneumonia, 1 due to suspicious chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 1 due to unremitted high fever, 1 patient due to severe psychiatric compliant including suicidal ideation, and 2 patients transferred to the hospital on their own will. Of them, two patients were transferred to the hospital shortly after admission, due to chest radiograph abnormalities at the initial screening.