COVID-19 in Northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina and patients length of hospitalization

Abstract
Background Since outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic clinical data from various parts of the world have been reported, until now there has been no provide data from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) about COVID-19. Aim was to report on the first cohort of patients from B&H and to analyze clinical factors of COVID-19 patients that influence the length of hospitalization. Methods Retrospective cohort study conducted at UKC Tuzla. The study included 25 COVID-19 positive patients that were hospitalized between March 28th and April 27th 2020. The LOH was measured from the time of admission to discharge. Hospitalization greater than 10 days was considered as prolonged. Factors analyzed induced age, BMI, comorbidities, serum creatinine and oxygen saturation upon admission.Results The mean age was 52.92±19.15 years and BMI 28.80±4.22. LOH for patients with normal BMI was 9±SE2.646 days (CI 95% 3.814-14.816) vs 14.182 ±SE .937 (CI 95% 12.346-16.018; pConclusion LOH varied among COVID-19 patients and was prolonged when clinical characteristics such as elevated BMI, comorbidities, elevated creatinine and low oxygen saturation levels were taken into consideration. Furthermore, risk factors for COVID-19 patients in B&H do not deviate from data reported in other countries.