Shrestha, Mahendra RajBasnet, AjayaMaharjan, RajendraChand, Arun BahadurKarki, LochanSingh, SubashGhimire, SagarMaharjan, Rupak2025-09-252025-09-252023https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14572/2342Mahendra Raj Shrestha Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nepal Armed Police Force Hospital, Balambu, Kathmandu, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8292-5757 Ajaya Basnet Department of Medical Microbiology, Shi-Gan International College of Science and Technology, Maharajganj, Kathmandu, Nepal Rajendra Maharjan Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nepal Armed Police Force Hospital, Balambu, Kathmandu, Nepal Arun Bahadur Chand Department of Clinical Laboratory, KIST Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Mahalaxmi, Lalitpur, Nepal Lochan Karki Department of Medicine, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Mahaboudha, Kathmandu, Nepal Subash Singh Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nepal Armed Police Force Hospital, Balambu, Kathmandu, Nepal Sagar Ghimire Department of Molecular Laboratory, Nepal Armed Police Force Hospital, Balambu, Kathmandu, Nepal Rupak Maharjan Department of Dermatology, Nepal Armed Police Force Hospital, Balambu, Kathmandu, NepalAbstract Introduction: Because 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. Methods: This 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. Results: Among 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. Conclusions: The prevalence of COVID-19 among hospitalized individuals in this study was higher than in previous studies conducted in similar settings.en-USCOVID-19NepalPrevalenceSARS-CoV-2Article