Age and clinical signs as predictors of COVID-19 symptoms and cycle threshold value

Abstract

Many COVID-19 infected people remain asymptomatic, and hence the diagnosis at first presentation remains a challenge. Assessment at a presentation in primary care settings is usually done by visual triaging and basic clinical examination. This retrospective study involved investigating the medical e-records of COVID-19 positive patients who presented to a COVID-19 centre in Qatar for July 2020. The presence (symptomatic group) or the absence (asymptomatic group) of symptoms along with objective vital examination ( ie ; heart-rate (HR), temperature, haemoglobin saturation (SpO 2 )) were analysed and linked to the viral load ( ie ; cycle threshold (Ct)) of COVID-19 positive patients. Four hundred eighty-one symptomatic (230 males) and 216 asymptomatic (101 males) patients were included. Compared to the asymptomatic male group, the symptomatic male group was older, had lower Ct value and SpO 2 , and higher temperature and HR. Compared to the females asymptomatic group, the symptomatic females group had lower Ct value, and higher temperature. Compared to the asymptomatic group, the symptomatic group had lower Ct value and SpO 2 , and higher temperature and HR. Compared to the asymptomatic group, the symptomatic group had lower Ct values (age groups [21–30], [31–40], [41–50] and [51–60]), higher temperature (age groups [21–30] and [31–40], Ct ranges [20.01–25.00] and [25.01–30.00]), higher HR (age groups [21–30] and [31–40], Ct range [15.01–20.00]); and lower SpO 2 (age groups [41–50] and [51–60], Ct ranges [15.01–20.00] and [35.01–40.00]). Compared with asymptomatic patients, symptomatic patients with COVID-19 are most likely to be febrile, tachycardic, hypoxic and having higher viral load. Higher viral load was associated with higher HR, higher temperature, lower SpO 2 , but there was no relation between viral load and age.

Age and Sex Differences Among Mildly Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Patients with Omicron Infection in 2022 in Shanghai, China

“…18 Subsequent tests can be performed to monitor the dynamics of rising Ct values as a sign of a decrease in viral load over time to determine the possibility of return to work of health care workers who are infected and in isolation, 19 to determine a response to antiviral therapy, and to associate symptoms with viral load. 20 The data in this study, although collected from only one hospital with a relatively small number of patients, still allow for a more consistent conclusion due to the high quality of the data collection during the same period with the same instrument test and same data sample collection staff (the same nurses performed the nasal swabs). China's zero-COVID -19 policy has resulted in fewer cases overall, allowing for the research of mild and asymptomatic patients.…”

“… 18 Subsequent tests can be performed to monitor the dynamics of rising Ct values as a sign of a decrease in viral load over time to determine the possibility of return to work of health care workers who are infected and in isolation, 19 to determine a response to antiviral therapy, and to associate symptoms with viral load. 20 …”

New symptoms and prevalence of postacute COVID-19 syndrome among nonhospitalized COVID-19 survivors

“…The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic continues to be a major public health burden and is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality, with upward of 260 million cases reported worldwide at present. The symptoms of acute illness range from mild to severe, with a wide range of possible symptoms presenting 2–14 days after exposure 1 , 2 .…”

Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 and the Future of Mega Sport Events: Is This the Tipping Point from Pandemic to Endemic?

“…Globally, COVID-19 continues to pose significant political, socioeconomic, scientific, and public health challenges. Large-scale mass gatherings, such as sporting, musical, and religious events, have historically been a significant source of infectious disease transmission and remain primarily a key challenge to global health (18)(19)(20)(21)(22).…”