Abstract: Preprint: Please note that this article has not completed peer review. COVID-19 in Iran, a comprehensive investigation from exposure to treatment outcomes CURRENT STATUS: UNDER REVIEW Mohammad Ali Ashraf Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Nasim Shokouhi Tehran University of Medical Sciences Elham Shirali Tehran University of Medical Sciences Fateme Davari-tanha Tehran University of Medical Sciences Omeed Memar Academic Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute, Chicago, IL Alireza Kamalipour University of California San Diego Ayein Azarnoush Alborz University of Medical Sciences Avin Mabadi Iran University of Medical Sciences Adele Ossareh Shahid Beheshti University Milad Sanginabadi Tehran University of Medical Sciences Talat Mokhtari Azad Tehran University of Medical Sciences Leila Aghaghazvini Tehran University of Medical Sciences 1 Sara Ghaderkhani Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tahereh Poordast Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Alieh Pourdast Tehran University of Medical Sciences Pershang Nazemi Tehran University of Medical Sciences nazemipershang@gmail.comCorresponding Author ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2991-7923 10.21203/rs.3.rs-26339/v1 SUBJECT AREAS Infectious Diseases KEYWORDS Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); 2019-nCoV; SARS-CoV-2; Iran; clinical characteristics; treatment outcomes 2 Abstract Background There is a growing need for information regarding the recent coronavirus disease of 2019 (Covid-19). We present a comprehensive report of Covid-19 patients in Iran. Methods One hundred hospitalized patients with Covid-19 were studied. Data on potential source of exposure, demographic, clinical, and paraclinical features, therapy outcome, and post-discharge follow-up were analyzed. Results The median age of the patients was 58 years, and the majority of the patients (72.7%) were above 50 years of age. Fever was present in 45.2% of the patients on admission. The most common clinical symptoms were shortness of breath (74%) and cough (68%). Most patients had elevated Creactive protein (92.3%), elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (82.9%), lymphocytopenia (74.2 %) on admission. Lower lobes of the lung were most commonly involved, and ground-glass opacity (81.8%) was the most frequent finding in CT scans. The administration of hydroxychloroquine improved the clinical outcome of the patients. Lopinavir/ritonavir was efficacious at younger ages. Of the 70 discharged patients, 40% had symptom relapse, (8.6%) were readmitted to the hospital, and 3 patients (4.3%) died. Conclusions This report demonstrates a heterogeneous nature of clinical manifestations in patients affected with Covid-19. The most common presenting symptoms are non-specific, so attention should be made on broader testing, especially in age groups with the greatest risk and younger individuals who can serve as carriers of the disease. Hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir (in younger age group) can be potential treatment options. Finally, patients discharged from the hospital should be followed up because of potential symptom relapse.