Abstract
Background: In emergency departments (ED), patients who are transported for non-specific complaints, without initial suspicion of infectious diseases, are often ultimately diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This situation presents significant challenges for infection control in hospital settings.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were transported to our ED between January 2022 and June 2024. Data for this study were extracted from electronic medical records, focusing on chief complaints at the time of emergency transport. Patients transferred from other hospitals with a prior COVID-19 diagnosis were excluded.
Results: This study included a total of 278 patients, with a significant proportion showing non-specific symptoms, such as weakness and trouble in movement, especially elderly people. Older patients also tended to have lower body temperatures upon arrival, than younger patients. Symptom severity varied, and elderly patients were more likely to experience moderate to severe illnesses.
Conclusions: The findings of this study emphasize the challenge of diagnosing COVID-19 in elderly patients owing to the frequent absence of typical symptoms. ED should maintain a high level of suspicion for COVID-19 among elderly patients to prevent nosocomial transmission.
