Introduction:

The literature suggests that the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 infection in young people is different. COVID-19 has been reported to be less frequent and less severe yet the evidence remains contrasting. This study had the objective of describing the COVID-19 disease in hospitalized Mexican youth.

Material and methods:

A retrospective study was carried out in 102 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases Ismael Cosío Villegas and the ISSEMyM Toluca State of Mexico Medical Center in the period from March to May 2020. They were classified according to age, 51 patients in the group of young adults < 35 years and 51 adults older than 35 years. The clinical characteristics between the groups and their association with decreased severity of illness and death were compared.

Results:

In the group of young people (< 35 years) the saturation of O2 at admission was 86% IQR (74-91). 66% (n = 34) presented lymphopenia on admission. The percentage of obesity in young people was similar to that of adults (43% versus 41%). The degree of severity was mild in 27.5% (n = 14), moderate in 45% (n = 23) and severe/critical in 27.5% (n = 14). This group also presented lower degrees of tachypnea, severity of COVID-19 and lethality due to SARS-CoV-2 infection when compared to adults (15% versus 45% p < 0.05). At hospital admission, D-dimer values were lower in this group (0.69 versus 1.01 µg/mL) and serum albumin was higher (3.77 versus 3.3 mg/dL) compared with the values in adults. The neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and platelets/lymphocytes were found as possible predictive biomarkers of deterioration by COVID-19 with an OR of 8.03 and 3.6, respectively.

Conclusion:

Young adults with COVID-19 who warrant hospitalization have a high percentage of obesity. They have a higher amount of initial albumin, and lower levels of D-dimer with symptoms that are frequently mild-moderate on admission and less lethal compared to hospitalized adult patients.