Weifang Kong1, Yuting Wang2, Jinliang Hu3, Aamer Chughtai4, Hong Pu1. 1. Department of Radiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, China. 2. Department of Radiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, China. Electronic address: wangyuting_330@163.com. 3. Institute of Health Policy and Hospital Management, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, China. 4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Asymptomatic infection of SARS-CoV-2 has become a concern worldwide. This study aims to compare the epidemiology and the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. METHODS: A total of 511 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection cases, including 100 asymptomatic (by the time of the pathogenic tests) and 411 symptomatic individuals were consecutively enrolled from January 25 to February 20, 2020 from hospitals in 21 cities and 47 counties or districts in Sichuan Province. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics were compared. RESULTS: Compared to the symptomatic patients, the asymptomatic cases were younger (P < 0.001), had similar co-morbidity percentages (P = 0.609), and came from higher altitude areas with lower population mobility (P < 0.001) with better defined epidemiological history (P < 0.001). 27.4% of well-documented asymptomatic cases developed delayed symptoms after the pathogenic diagnosis. 60% of asymptomatic cases demonstrated findings of pneumonia on the initial chest CT, including well-recognized features of coronavirus disease-19. None of the asymptomatic individuals died. Two elderly individuals with initially asymptomatic infection developed severe symptoms during hospitalization. One case of possible virus transmission by a patient during the incubation period was highly suspected. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological and clinical findings highlight the significance of asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2. Inspecting the epidemiological history would facilitate the identification of asymptomatic cases. Evidence supports the chest CT scans for confirmed asymptomatic cases to evaluate the extent of lung involvement.
OBJECTIVES: Asymptomatic infection of SARS-CoV-2 has become a concern worldwide. This study aims to compare the epidemiology and the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. METHODS: A total of 511 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection cases, including 100 asymptomatic (by the time of the pathogenic tests) and 411 symptomatic individuals were consecutively enrolled from January 25 to February 20, 2020 from hospitals in 21 cities and 47 counties or districts in Sichuan Province. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics were compared. RESULTS: Compared to the symptomatic patients, the asymptomatic cases were younger (P < 0.001), had similar co-morbidity percentages (P = 0.609), and came from higher altitude areas with lower population mobility (P < 0.001) with better defined epidemiological history (P < 0.001). 27.4% of well-documented asymptomatic cases developed delayed symptoms after the pathogenic diagnosis. 60% of asymptomatic cases demonstrated findings of pneumonia on the initial chest CT, including well-recognized features of coronavirus disease-19. None of the asymptomatic individuals died. Two elderly individuals with initially asymptomatic infection developed severe symptoms during hospitalization. One case of possible virus transmission by a patient during the incubation period was highly suspected. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological and clinical findings highlight the significance of asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2. Inspecting the epidemiological history would facilitate the identification of asymptomatic cases. Evidence supports the chest CT scans for confirmed asymptomatic cases to evaluate the extent of lung involvement.
Authors: Joshuan J Barboza; Diego Chambergo-Michilot; Mariana Velasquez-Sotomayor; Christian Silva-Rengifo; Carlos Diaz-Arocutipa; Jose Caballero-Alvarado; Franko O Garcia-Solorzano; Christoper A Alarcon-Ruiz; Leonardo Albitres-Flores; German Malaga; Patricia Schlagenhauf; Alfonso J Rodriguez-Morales Journal: Travel Med Infect Dis Date: 2021-04-07 Impact factor: 20.441
Authors: Katherine Simbaña-Rivera; Pablo R Morocho Jaramillo; Javier V Velastegui Silva; Lenin Gómez-Barreno; Ana B Ventimilla Campoverde; Juan F Novillo Cevallos; Washington E Almache Guanoquiza; Silvio L Cedeño Guevara; Luis G Imba Castro; Nelson A Moran Puerta; Alex W Guayta Valladares; Alex Lister; Esteban Ortiz-Prado Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-03-31 Impact factor: 3.240