INTRODUCTION

The epidemic that began in the city of Wuhan in December 2019 has become a problem of public health that advances at vertiginous steps. Its progress was so overwhelming that, as of March 2020, 114 countries were affected. Its arrival in the American continent was reported on January 23, 2020, confirming the first case in Argentina, while in Peru, the first infection was registered on March 6, 2020 in the city of Lima.

The main problematic reality of underdeveloped countries such as Peru is related to the fact that not all departments have standardized reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) tests, which help in the diagnosis of molecular. Likewise, the poorest departments and provinces, such as the province of Utcubamba, did not have vaccines that serve the specific antiviral treatment against Covid 19, having as their only resource non-exposure as a means of prevention the rational use of equipment. Individual protection.

Taking all this into account, it is understood that contagion by this disease involves all the medical aspects of which it is pertinent to investigate: clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological characteristics, to reach a better understanding of the condition for the sake of greater and more effective scientific

treatment. Especially in places that do not have research related to this current and vital problem, as is the case in Hospital Apoyo I Santiago Apóstol in the province of Utcubamba (HSA), which has a large rate of cases that are progressively increasing, of which The clinical profile that would contribute to studying the main comorbidities that are related to arterial hypertension, obesity and diabetes mellitus is not yet available; diseases that could accelerate the progression of the⁵disease and therefore premature death.

Likewise, the HSA of the province of Utcubamba does not have an epidemiological profile that allows for studying morbidity, that is, the evolution of the disease and its prevalence according to gender, place of origin, and age. Important data that allow a better knowledge of the virus and its differential impact⁶according to these demographic characteristics.

The objective of this study was to determine the clinical and epidemiological profile in Covid-19 patients treated at the HSA - Utcubamba, 2020.

METHODS

RESULTS

A total of 173 patients were reported, most of whom were male (Table 1), with a mean age of 44.7 years (SD 5.8).

22 patients with comorbidities were found, of these the highest frequency was diabetes mellitus, the rest of the patients did not presented comorbidities (Table 2).

The most frequent signs or symptoms were general malaise and fever, the least frequent were nausea or vomiting (Table 3).

DISCUSSION

Currently, Covid-19 is considered one of the most dismal pandemics in history, not only because of the abrupt increases in mortality rates throughout the world but also because of the symptoms and comorbidities that it can trigger, these being painful and lethal. Epidemiological and clinical studies are still an open field due to the variants that this disease has developed, which continue to mutate and continue to express themselves in different clinical manifestations and laboratory findings.

In the present investigation, it was possible to identify the epidemiological characteristics that include the gender, age, and place of origin of the AHS patients.

Regarding gender, the highest prevalence^3,5,7,8in the male gender since they have a greater genetic predisposition to^9,10contract this type of disease. The average age in general, was 44.7 years, with adults and older adults being the most affected. These results were partially similar in other studies, indicating that the disease tends to have a greater impact on these people because the immune system^8,12deteriorates over time. Regarding the place of origin, 93.6% resided in the city of Bagua Grande, the capital of Utcubamba, which represents a greater centralization of people and an ^5,12 a higher risk of contagion.

Regarding the main comorbidities presented in HSA Covid-19 patients, DM, cardiovascular diseases, and^5,12high blood pressure stood out, which generated an unfavorable clinical course due to the weakening of the⁸immune and circulatory system.

Consequently, it was possible to identify the symptoms and signs presented by SAH patients, the main one being general malaise, characterized by¹³fatigue and diffuse pain were also present

Fever and cough^9,14Covid-19. Likewise, dyspnea and headaches can occur due to a lack of oxygen and¹⁵blood supply.

Regarding the identification of the first laboratory findings, which have been the study material of many investigations, elevated CRP, elevated leukocytosis, and lymphopenia were found, findings¹⁶that are shared by other investigations because they are samples that represent the presence of infections at the blood level and product of the deformation of antibodies that help ⁽¹⁷⁾ fight this microorganism.

CONCLUSIONS

The epidemiological and clinical profile of the HSA Covid 19 patients were: Predominantly male gender with an average age of 44.7 years; the most affected place of origin, the city of Bagua Grande. According to main comorbidities: DM. According to main signs and symptoms: malaise, according to main laboratory findings: elevated CRP, elevated leukocytosis, and lymphopenia.