CLINICAL CHARACTERISTIC AND SEVERITY PROFILE OF COVID-19 PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION IN PALU, CENTRAL SULAWESI

Abstract

Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection remains an unsolved problem in Indonesia until this year, included Central Sulawesi. The higher percentage of deaths in Palu, Central Sulawesi (3,03%) than the death rate in Indonesia (2.77%) is challenging for health workers; therefore, they must always gain updated information for concluding the correct therapeutic decision. This study aims to determine the clinical characteristics and severity profile of COVID-19 patients in Palu, Central Sulawesi, and highlight the hypertension comorbidity. Hospitalized COVID-19 patients' data were chosen by using a cross-sectional study. Patients were divided into two categories, i.e., mild (43.3%) and moderate-severe (56.7%). Results revealed that the moderate-severe clinical categories consist primarily of males and ages over 60 years. Cough (67%), history of fever (54%), dyspnea (53%), and nausea (50%) were the most common symptoms among patients with COVID-19. Whereas hypertension was found as the most common comorbid disease (40%), followed by diabetes mellitus (36%). Half of the patients with comorbid hypertension (50%) are included in the moderate-severe clinical severity group. The average length of stay was 13 days, with the condition of showing recovery (90%) and died (10%); patients who died were admitted to the hospital under moderate-severe clinical conditions. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), procalcitonin (PCT) levels, respiration rate, and oxygen saturation revealed a significant relationship (p<0.05) with clinical severity. As the most comorbid disease, the molecular genetics of hypertension concerning the genetic variation of the population in Palu, Central Sulawesi, will be studied in our subsequent study.