A
 recent cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China, was caused by a 
novel betacoronavirus, the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). We report
 the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological 
characteristics and treatment and clinical outcomes of these patients.
Methods
All
 patients with suspected 2019-nCoV were admitted to a designated 
hospital in Wuhan. We prospectively collected and analysed data on 
patients with laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCoV infection by real-time 
RT-PCR and next-generation sequencing. Data were obtained with 
standardised data collection forms shared by WHO and the International 
Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium from 
electronic medical records. Researchers also directly communicated with 
patients or their families to ascertain epidemiological and symptom 
data. Outcomes were also compared between patients who had been admitted
 to the intensive care unit (ICU) and those who had not.
Findings
By
 Jan 2, 2020, 41 admitted hospital patients had been identified as 
having laboratory-confirmed 2019-nCoV infection.
 Most of the infected 
patients were men (30 [73%] of 41);
 less than half had underlying 
diseases (13 [32%])
 including diabetes (eight [20%]), 
hypertension (six
 [15%]), and 
cardiovascular disease (six [15%]).
 Median age was 49·0 
years (IQR 41·0–58·0). 
27 (66%) of 41 patients had been exposed to 
Huanan seafood market.
 One family cluster was found. 
Common symptoms at 
onset of illness were 
fever (40 [98%] of 41 patients),
cough (31 [76%]),
 and
myalgia or fatigue (18 [44%]); 
less common symptoms were
sputum 
production (11 [28%] of 39), 
headache (three [8%] of 38)
haemoptysis 
(two [5%] of 39), and
diarrhoea (one [3%] of 38). 
Dyspnoea developed in 
22 (55%) of 40 patients (median time from illness onset to dyspnoea 8·0 
days [IQR 5·0–13·0]). 
26 (63%) of 41 patients had lymphopenia.
 All 41 
patients had pneumonia with abnormal findings on chest CT. 
Complications
 included acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)  (12 [29%]),
 RNAaemia (six 
[15%]), 
acute cardiac injury (five [12%]) and 
secondary infection (four 
[10%]). 
13 (32%) patients were admitted to an ICU and 
six (15%) died. 
 
Compared with non-ICU patients,
 ICU patients had higher plasma levels of
 IL2, IL7, IL10, GSCF, IP10, MCP1, MIP1A, and TNFα.
Interpretation
The
 2019-nCoV infection caused clusters of severe respiratory illness 
similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and was 
associated with ICU admission and high mortality. 
Major gaps in our 
knowledge of the origin, epidemiology, duration of human transmission, 
and clinical spectrum of disease need fulfilment by future studies.
Funding
Ministry
 of Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 
National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Beijing Municipal 
Science and Technology Commission.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar