Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics of COVID-19 in a Primary Care Center in the South Batinah Region of Oman

ObjectivesThe main purpose of this study was to identify the clinical and biochemical profile of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and sex differences in Rustaq Polyclinic in South Batinah Governorate.MethodsThis study is a retrospective chart review of COVID-19 patients diagnosed in Rustaq Polyclinic in the South Batinah region of Oman. The medical charts of 150 patients from November 10, 2020, to November 24, 2021, at Rustaq Polyclinic were retrospectively reviewed, and clinical and laboratory parameters were extracted. Information regarding the patients’ demographics, risk factors, clinical symptoms or signs, and laboratory findings on admission were obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).ResultsA total of 150 study participant data were added to the analysis. Of those, 97 (64.7%) were male and 53 (35.3%) were female, with a median age of 32 and 39 among males and females, respectively. Male and female age (p=0.017) and marital status (p=0.003) were significantly different. No significant difference (p≥0.05) was observed between male and female study participants regarding their history of travel, history of contact with COVID-19-positive patients, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and home management. Similarly, no significant difference (p≥0.05) was observed between males and females regarding their clinical presentations.ConclusionMany symptomatic patients have shown influenza-like symptoms such as fever, respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, headache, myalgia, and loss of smell. The spectrum of symptomatic infection ranges from mild to severe, and most infections are not severe. It is imperative to equip ourselves with adequate understanding and protective measures such as vaccination and diverse treatment modalities against the constantly changing nature of novel coronaviruses.