Comparison of the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and community-acquired pneumonia

Abstract

Background/Aim: It is challenging to discriminate between COVID-19 and community-acquired pneumonia due to similar clinical features, albeit of great importance. This study aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics between patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 pneumonia and those with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: This retrospective cohort study included cases who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of COVID-19 between April and December 2020 and those hospitalized with the diagnosis of CAP during the same months in 2019. Statistical differences were investigated by comparing the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the two groups. Results: The study included 882 cases, comprising 755 with COVID-19 and 127 with CAP. In the COVID-19 pneumonia group, the mean age was lower, there were more women, the hospitalization period was longer, and the rates of hypertension and diabetes mellitus were higher compared to the CAP group (P