Characterisation of 22445 patients attending UK emergency departments with suspected COVID-19 infection: Observational cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hospital emergency departments play a crucial role in the initial assessment and management of suspected COVID-19 infection. This needs to be guided by studies of people presenting with suspected COVID-19, including those admitted and discharged, and those who do not ultimately have COVID-19 confirmed. We aimed to characterise patients attending emergency departments with suspected COVID-19, including subgroups based on sex, ethnicity and COVID-19 test results.

Methods and findings

We undertook a mixed prospective and retrospective observational cohort study in 70 emergency departments across the United Kingdom (UK). We collected presenting data from 22445 people attending with suspected COVID-19 between 26 March 2020 and 28 May 2020. Outcomes were admission to ho

SUBMITTER: Goodacre S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7688143 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature