Predictors of pneumonia and severe pneumonia in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 at a tertiary-care hospital, Thailand

Clinical spectrum of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) encompasses asymptomatic to severe pneumonia. Clinical characteristics of pneumonia and severe pneumonia in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection admitted to a university hospital in Thailand were recorded and factors predicting pneumonia and severe pneumonia were determined using a Cox-regression analysis. Of 144 patients, mean ± SD age was 39 ±13 years, with 42% males. Following admission, 51% of patients developed pneumonia within median period of 7 days from onset of illness, among whom 27% progressed to severe pneumonia. Multivariate analysis showed age ≥40 years, body mass index ≥25 kg/m², absolute lymphocyte count <1500 cells/mm³, and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level ≥200 U/l at admission were significant factors associated with pneumonia, while severe pneumonia was associated with male gender, room-air oxygen saturation <97% and serum LDH level ≥300 U/l at admission. These findings should be of assistance in predicting COVID-19 patients at risk of developing pneumonia and those progressing to the severe form, allowing preparation for close monitoring and prompt management of such patients.