Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of discharged patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 on the Qinghai plateau

Xi, Aiqi; Zhuo, Ma; Dai, Jingtao; Ding, Yuehe; Ma, Xiuzhen; Ma, Xiaoli; Wang, Xiaoyi; Shi, Lianmeng; Bai, Huanying; Zheng, Hongying; Nuermberger, Eric; Xu, Jian

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) was first reported in Wuhan, a series of confirmed cases of COVID‐19 were found on the Qinghai‐Tibet plateau. We aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of all confirmed cases in Qinghai, a province at high altitude. The region had no sustained local transmission. Of all 18 patients with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, 15 patients comprising 4 transmission clusters were identified. Three patients were infected by direct contact without travel history to Wuhan. Of 18 patients, 10 patients showed bilateral pneumonia and 2 patients showed no abnormalities. Three patients with comorbidities such as hypertension, liver diseases or diabetes developed severe illness. High C‐reactive protein levels and elevations of both ALT and AST were observed in 3 severely ill patients on admission. All 18 patients were eventually discharged, including the 3 severe patients who recovered after treatment with non‐invasive mechanical ventilation, convalescent plasma and other therapies. Our findings confirmed human‐to‐human transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 in clusters. Patients with comorbidities are more likely to develop severe illness. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.