Symptom-based early-stage differentiation between SARS-CoV-2 versus other respiratory tract infections-Upper Silesia pilot study

Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 30;11(1):13580. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-93046-6.

Abstract

In the DECODE project, data were collected from 3,114 surveys filled by symptomatic patients RT-qPCR tested for SARS-CoV-2 in a single university centre in March-September 2020. The population demonstrated balanced sex and age with 759 SARS-CoV-2( +) patients. The most discriminative symptoms in SARS-CoV-2( +) patients at early infection stage were loss of taste/smell (OR = 3.33, p < 0.0001), body temperature above 38℃ (OR = 1.67, p < 0.0001), muscle aches (OR = 1.30, p = 0.0242), headache (OR = 1.27, p = 0.0405), cough (OR = 1.26, p = 0.0477). Dyspnea was more often reported among SARS-CoV-2(-) (OR = 0.55, p < 0.0001). Cough and dyspnea were 3.5 times more frequent among SARS-CoV-2(-) (OR = 0.28, p < 0.0001). Co-occurrence of cough, muscle aches, headache, loss of taste/smell (OR = 4.72, p = 0.0015) appeared significant, although co-occurrence of two symptoms only, cough and loss of smell or taste, means OR = 2.49 (p < 0.0001). Temperature > 38℃ with cough was most frequent in men (20%), while loss of taste/smell with cough in women (17%). For younger people, taste/smell impairment is sufficient to characterise infection, whereas in older patients co-occurrence of fever and cough is necessary. The presented study objectifies the single symptoms and interactions significance in COVID-19 diagnoses and demonstrates diverse symptomatology in patient groups.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers / statistics & numerical data
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Ageusia / etiology
  • COVID-19 / complications
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cough / etiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Female
  • Fever / etiology
  • Headache / etiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Olfaction Disorders / etiology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Poland / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / complications
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / diagnosis*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / epidemiology*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Symptom Assessment / classification
  • Symptom Assessment / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult