ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), identify the high-risk factors which promoted the disease progression into severe or critical cases, and provide clinical guidance.MethodsNinety-six cases of clinically diagnosed coronavirus disease 2019 were collected and analyzed from General Hospital of the Yangtse River Shipping from January 20 to February 14, 2020. According to clinical classification, those cases were divided into two groups: mild group, including common and mild cases, and severe group including severe and critical cases.ResultsThere were more than half of patients ages>60 years old and severe or critical illness (61.5%, 56.3%), and obese patients accounts for 45.8%, the complication of hypertension accounts for 52.1%. The average time from onset to hospitalization was (6.1±2.6) days, and the average hospitalization days were (15.7±6.3) days. Compared with the mild group, the number of male patients in the severe group was more (57.4% vs. 35.7%, P<0.05), the numbers of elderly patients were larger (77.8% vs. 40.5%, P<0.01), and more obese peoples (55.6% vs. 33.3%, P<0.05). Cough symptom was more common in clinical presentation in the severe group (81.5% vs. 61.9%, P< 0.05). Patients with the complication of hypertension or diabetes occupied a higher proportion in the severe group, which were 64.8% vs. 35.7% and 35.2% vs. 14.3% (P< 0.05), respectively. And the rate of hypoxemia in admission of the severe group was significantly higher (79.6% vs. 9.5%, P< 0.01).ConclusionsThe cases of ages>60 years old and severe or critical illness in coronavirus disease 2019 occupy a higher proportion, and the complication of hypertension accounts for high proportion. Men, ages>60 years old, obese, coughing symptoms, with hypertension and / or diabetes, hypoxemia upon admission are high risk factors for progression into severe and critical cases.