Background: The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the cities near to Wuhan remain not very clear.
Methods: The epidemiological and clinical data of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the Public Health Treatment Center of Changsha, China were collected and analyzed.
Findings: Of 242 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, the median age was 45 years old (range, 1-84 years) and 50.8% were women. 41.3% had a Wuhan exposure history, of which one had a Huanan seafood market exposure history. Three medical staff were infected, of which only one doctor's infection was deemed to be medical work-related. Thirty-seven patients (15.3%) were severe. Compared with non-severe patients, severe cases were older (median age, 57 vs 41 years) and had a higher incidence of underlying comorbidities, including hypertension and diabetes. Severe patients had lower lymphocytes, as well as higher levels of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and higher ratio of elevated PCT than non-severe patients. Patients with a short stay in Wuhan had a higher risk of being severe than those without Wuhan exposure. However, there were no significant differences in symptoms, laboratory findings, or underlying comorbidities between different groups according to Wuhan exposure history.
Interpretation: This is the first time to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of COVID-19 in the nearest capital cities around Wuhan. Wuhan city lockdown was effective in blocking the spread of COVID-19 outside Wuhan. Patients with short-termed Wuhan exposure history may be severer than those without Wuhan exposure.
Funding Statement: Not available.
Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Ethics Approval Statement: This case series were approved by the institutional ethics board of the second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (No. 2020001).