SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza: similarities and disparities

This report describes the differences in disease severity and clinical presentation between hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and others with seasonal influenza. A total of 136 influenza and 152 COVID-19 patients were included. Patients with influenza more frequently had dyspnea ( p = 0.004), hypoxemia ( p < 0.001), underlying diseases ( p = 0.046), and elevated liver enzymes ( p = 0.028). In contrast, patients with COVID-19 were overweight ( p < 0.001), lymphopenic ( p < 0.001), had elevated CRP ( p = 0.011), and radiological abnormalities ( p < 0.001). Patients with influenza were more severely ill on admission (NEWS > 5) ( p < 0.001). However, length of hospital stay, ventilatory support, and 30-day-mortality were similar. Despite differences in clinical presentation and disease severity between influenza and COVID-19 patients, both groups had similar clinical outcomes.