• Mahendra Raj Shrestha, Ajaya Basnet, Rajendra Maharjan, Arun Bahadur Chand, Lochan Karki, Subash Singh, Sagar Ghimire, and Rupak Maharjan.
• Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nepal Armed Police Force Hospital, Balambu, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2023 May 1; 61 (261): 460464460-464.

IntroductionBecause of the unbridled transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, researchers and healthcare professionals have set a common goal for timely diagnosis and future prevention of the disease. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of COVID-19 among patients visiting the Department of Emergency of a tertiary care centre.MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the individuals suspected COVID-19 who had visited the Department of Emergency of a tertiary care centre between 11 January 2021 and 29 December 2021. Ethical approval was taken from Ethical Review Board (Reference number: 2768). Socio-demographic details, clinical symptoms, and two nasopharyngeal swab samples (one in viral transport medium to run RT-PCR and the other for Ag-RDT) were collected from each individual. Convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.ResultsAmong the 232 patients, COVID-19 was detected in 108 (46.55%) (40.13-52.97, 95% CI) by Ag-RDT. A total of 44 (39.63%) of age groups 31-40 years were predominantly infected with SARS-CoV-2. The mean age was 32.13±10.80 years and was mostly males 73 (65.77%). Fever was present in 57 (51.35%) and dry cough was present in 50 (45.05%) COVID-19 patients.ConclusionsThe prevalence of COVID-19 among hospitalized individuals in this study was higher than in previous studies conducted in similar settings.KeywordsCOVID-19; Nepal; prevalence; SARS-CoV-2.

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