Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients in three consecutive generations of spread in Zhejiang, China.

Abstract Objective To determine the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients as the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to circulate in the population. Methods This is a retrospective, multi-center cohort study. Adult COVID-19 cases from four hospitals in Zhejiang were enrolled and clustered into 3 groups based on epidemiological history. First-generation patients had a travel history to Hubei within 14 days before disease onset; second generation patients had a contact history with first-generation patients; third-generation patients had a contact history with second-generation patients. Demographic, clinical characteristics, clinical outcomes, and duration of viral shedding were analyzed. Results 171 patients were enrolled, with 83, 44, and 44 patients in the first, second, and third generation, respectively. Compared to first and second generation, third generation patients were older (61.3 vs. 48.3 and 44.0 y, P Conclusion The third generation patients were older, had more underlying comorbidities and had a higher proportion of severe or critical illness compared to first and second-generation.