tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Infect Dev Ctries
. 2022 Feb 28;16(2):291-297.
doi: 10.3855/jidc.15072.
Factors associated with prolonged viral detection in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
Yong Hoon Lee[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chae Moon Hong[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Taek Hoo Lee[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yoon Jin Hwang[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Dae Hyun Kim[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Jaetae Lee[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Introduction: Data on the clinical course and duration of viral RNA detection in patients with mild or asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 are limited.
Methodology: In this retrospective analysis, clinical characteristics and serial real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results were reviewed in a cohort of 1186 asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 patients in South Korea. Factors associated with prolonged duration of RT-PCR positivity for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were also evaluated. Patients with two consecutive negative RT-PCR tests ≥ 24 hours apart were considered to be in virologic remission and discharged.
Results: The average virologic remission period, defined as the number of days from diagnosis to virologic remission, was 22.0 ± 9.7 days; patients with longer than 30 days accounted for 21.2% (251/1186) of the population. Patients who took longer than 30 days to achieve virologic remission had a higher frequency of overall symptoms (p < 0.001) and respiratory symptoms (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis using Cox-proportional hazard regression, it was confirmed that respiratory symptoms (hazard ratio
, 0.7372; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6540-0.8311) and gastrointestinal symptoms (HR, 0.8213; 95% CI, 0.6970-0.9679) were independent factors associated with prolonged virologic remission. Age and co-morbidity such as diabetes and hypertension were not associated with the prolonged RT-PCR positivity.
Conclusions: A considerable percentage of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 showed prolonged RT-PCR positivity for SARS-CoV-2; which was independently associated with the presence of symptoms, but not with age and co-morbidity.
Keywords: COVID-19; Community Treatment Center; Comorbidity; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; Symptoms.
. 2022 Feb 28;16(2):291-297.
doi: 10.3855/jidc.15072.
Factors associated with prolonged viral detection in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
Yong Hoon Lee[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chae Moon Hong[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Taek Hoo Lee[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yoon Jin Hwang[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Dae Hyun Kim[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Jaetae Lee[SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35298424
- DOI: 10.3855/jidc.15072
Abstract
Introduction: Data on the clinical course and duration of viral RNA detection in patients with mild or asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 are limited.
Methodology: In this retrospective analysis, clinical characteristics and serial real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results were reviewed in a cohort of 1186 asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 patients in South Korea. Factors associated with prolonged duration of RT-PCR positivity for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were also evaluated. Patients with two consecutive negative RT-PCR tests ≥ 24 hours apart were considered to be in virologic remission and discharged.
Results: The average virologic remission period, defined as the number of days from diagnosis to virologic remission, was 22.0 ± 9.7 days; patients with longer than 30 days accounted for 21.2% (251/1186) of the population. Patients who took longer than 30 days to achieve virologic remission had a higher frequency of overall symptoms (p < 0.001) and respiratory symptoms (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis using Cox-proportional hazard regression, it was confirmed that respiratory symptoms (hazard ratio
, 0.7372; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6540-0.8311) and gastrointestinal symptoms (HR, 0.8213; 95% CI, 0.6970-0.9679) were independent factors associated with prolonged virologic remission. Age and co-morbidity such as diabetes and hypertension were not associated with the prolonged RT-PCR positivity.
Conclusions: A considerable percentage of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 showed prolonged RT-PCR positivity for SARS-CoV-2; which was independently associated with the presence of symptoms, but not with age and co-morbidity.
Keywords: COVID-19; Community Treatment Center; Comorbidity; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; Symptoms.