Clinical Characteristics and Health Care Cost Among Patients Successfully Treated for COVID-19 in Henan, China: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 epidemic has become a significant public health crisis affecting global health. We aimed further to clarify the clinical and medical expense characteristics of COVID-19.

Methods: In this retrospective, single-center study, we included all cured cases with confirmed COVID-19 in Henan Provincial People's Hospital from Jan 23 to Mar 10, 2020. Cases were analyzed for demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and radiological features and medical expense data. 

Findings: The average age of the 54 successfully treated patients with COVID-19 was 53.2 years old (SD 19.0), including 27 men and 27 women. Off this, 31 (57.4%) patients had chronic diseases. Patients commonly had clinical manifestations of fever (45 [83.3%] patients), cough (29[54.7%] patients), expectoration (28 [51.9%] patients), fatigue (24[44.4%] patients) and diarrhea (8[14.8%] patients) on admission. There was a 10-day interval from the onset of signs and symptoms to hospital admission. About 80% of them got recovery after a two-week treatment. During the treatment, 43(78.2%) patients had at least one comorbid illness, and 11(20.4%) had more than five comorbid illnesses. The mean interval from the onset of signs and symptoms to hospital discharge was 20.5 (IQR 16-29) days. The median total medical expense of the treated patient, in general, was 2579.6 (IQR 1366.1-4837.6) U.S. dollars. Still, the median medical expense was 8904.1 (IQR 6660.1- 27143.8) U.S. dollars in patients with more than five comorbid conditions during the treatment.

Interpretation: There is a 3-week interval from the onset of signs and symptoms to cure, and most hospitalized patients get recovery within two weeks. Although COVID-19 can result in fatal respiratory diseases and even death. The total medical expense of cases with more than five comorbid conditions during the treatment is higher. Quite a few COVID cases with other serious diseases are likely to account for most of the total medical expenses.

Funding Statement: This study was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (number 71603132), and the Central Government Guides the Development of Local Science and Technology Special Fund of China (number Z135050009017).

Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the Henan Provincial People's Hospital Ethics Committee