A Physician Suffering from COVID-19 with Multiple Co-Morbidities Have Delayed Viral Clearance: A Case Report from Bangladesh (Case Report)
1. Introduction
The Current outbreak of novel corona virus (2019-nCoV) was first reported in China, on 31st December 2019. Since then severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has generated 9,271,341 confirm cases and 475,583 confirm death till June 23, 2020 [1]. COVID-19 has contributed enormous adverse impact globally. According to the latest reports, the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are heterogenous [2] [3] [4] [5]. On admission 20-51% of patients having at least one co-morbidity, with diabetes (10% - 20%), hypertension (10% - 15%) and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (7% - 40%) being most common [3] [4] [6]. How over which underlying diseases that contribute the most to aggravate the conditions is still largely unknown. SARS-CoV-2 viral clearance is a gold standard for defining the recovery of COVID-19 infections [6]. One study showed that hypertension and diabetes delay the viral clearance in COVID-19 patients [6]. So patients of COVID-19 with multiple co-morbidities have more chance of developing complications as well as delayed viral clearance. We reported a case of 37 years old physician presented with COVID-19 with Hypertension, Bronchial asthma, Ankylosing spondylitis with delayed viral clearance though not developed any severe complications.
2. Case Presentation
The physician was a 37 years old man currently working in paediatric unit of a medical college hospital with multiple co-morbidities—hypertension, diagnosed axial spondyloarthropathy (ankylosing spondylitis) taking DMARDs (Salfasalazine 500 mg 3 times daily) from 2016 till now (see Table 1). On 14 April, 2020, when he was working in his ward got contact with a 12 years relapse nephrotic syndrome patient on high dose steroid and azathioprine admitted in the hospital with severe respiratory distress. The physician attended the patient several times during his treatment with proper personal protective equipments. After 3 days of his contact, the physician also developed sore throat, cough, fatigue, increasing breathlessness though his chronic asthma was remain controlled on medication and low grade fever (100® F) but don’t have diarrhoea, rhinorrhea or anosmia. On 18 April, 2020, he gave nasopharyngeal swab for RT PCR for Corona and it came positive. On 22 April, 2020, he got admitted in his own hospital. On admission vital signs were as follows: Blood pressure was 160/90 mm of Hg(he was on telmisartan 80 mg and amlodipine 5 mg antihypertensive drugs),Heart rate was 96/min, Temperature was 100® F, Respiratory rate was 20 breath/min, Oxygen saturation was 97% on room air. He was advised to take azithromycin 500 mg once daily, desloratidine 10 mg once daily, paracetamol 500 mg 3 times daily along with his regular medication salfasalazine 500 mg three times daily, increasing the dose of antihypertensive drugs and a anxiolytic, clonazepam 2 mg at night daily. His base line investigations(22 April) reveals—Chest radiography normal, slightly raised Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum ferritin and moderately increased C-reactive protein(C-RP) and slightly raised D-dimer (see Table 2). High resolution
![]()
Table 1. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of the patient.
![]()
Table 2. Base line investigations on 22 April, 2020.
computed tomography (HRCT) of chest and pro-calcitonin were not done. He was on the medication without any new symptoms or clinical deterioration till 12 May, 2020. On 5 May, he gave a nasopharyngeal swab for follow up test which was came positive again. He was remaining on the same medication till 12 May, when he was given another sample for RT-PCR which again came positive. After that his medication was reviewed as his symptoms cough, wheeze was not improved rather increasing respiratory distress (SpO2 fluctuating to 88% to 93%). After that on 13 May, 2020, some investigations reviewed including Chest X-ray which showed mild interstitial pneumonitis of both lung (Figure 1) but High resolution computed tomography(HR CT) of chest not done but D-dimer also came slightly raised. He was started ivermectin (0.15 mg/kg) for 3 days, nebulized salbutamol 4 hourly, bed side supplymental oxygen 4 L - 6 L/min by nasal canola, oral methylprednisolone 80 mg daily and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) enoxaparin 40 mg subcutaneous twice daily, intravenous antibiotic (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 1.2 gm) 3 times daily. During this time his condition gradually improved with sustain oxygen saturation above 97% on room air. On 18 May, 2020, he was given another nasopharyngeal swab which
![]()
Figure 1. Follow up X-ray Chest Posterior-Anterior view on 13 May, 2020, showing mild interstitial Pneumonitis of both lungs.
came positive. He continued the previous treatment without adding any new drug. On 27 and 29 May, 2020, he gave nasopharyngeal swab again which were came negative. Follow up X-ray Chest not done that time. On 28 May, 2020, he was discharged from hospital with anti-asthma medication, antihypertensive drug, sulfasalazine 500 three times daily along with oral Anticoagulants, rivaroxaban 20 mg once daily for 1 month. We advised him for another 14 days home isolation and a follow up visit after 14 days in the outpatient department.
3. Discussions
The current COVID-19 pandemic is the third and most lethal outbreak of corona virus in the 21st century in which the number of infections and mortality is suppressed those of both middle east respiratory syndrome and severe acute respiratory syndrome within a short period [7]. The spectrum of this disease ranges from mild to severe, even life threatening consequences. Some cases might progress to rapidly to acute respiratory distress syndrome [8] and/or multiple organ function failure [9]. Determining the viral dynamics and natural history of SAR-CoV-2 in different populations is crucial towards instituting public health policies and granting clearance for infected people [10]. One study showed that in young and healthy adult patients with COVID-19, the median duration of viral clearance is around 3 weeks [11]. This duration is higher than previous reports of a median between 9.5 and 20 days [12]. Another study showed that hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are associated with abnormal regulation of renin angiotensin system (RAS) and ACE 2 has key role involved in this process [13]. Other studies have shown that high expression of ACE 2 in the patient with hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease might facilitate SARS-CoV-2 to enter the targeted cells in the respiratory system and prolong the viral clearance [14].Another study showed that patients with chronic arthritis treated with DMARDs do not seem to be at increased risk of respiratory and life threatening complications from SARS-CoV-2 compared with the general population [15]. In our case the patient showed viral clearance at 39 days after the date of positive result found on first oropharyngeal RT PCR test (see Table 3). This case highlights that COVID-19 with co-morbidities importantly hypertension and diabetes related with severe complications in elderly patients and
![]()
Table 3. RT PCR test result on Nasopharyngeal swab.
less severe in young patients and delayed viral clearance in all age groups. The later one was present in our case and taking DMARDs for long time does not associated with severity also found in our case which was also similar to above study.
4. Conclusion
COVID-19 patient presented with co-morbidity particularly with hypertension and diabetes should always have to give priority during treatment because they have more chance of developing severe disease particularly elderly patients. Those who are suffering from rheumatological disease taking DMARDs does not need to stop the drug as it is not associated with severe disease rather contribute to flare up the controlled disease. Though some study regarding this already published, we recommend more large scale trial still needed for a conclusive recommendation. Heath care worker (HCW) particularly physicians have high risk of being infected and multiple exposure to this virus may influence severity and delayed viral clearance. Further study is needed for a definite conclusion.
Acknowledgements
Informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report.
Abbreviations
COVID-19, Corona virus disease 2019,
RT-PCR, Reverse transcription Polymerase chain reaction,
DMARDs, Disease Modifying Anti-rheumatic drugs.