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Asymptomatic patients as a source of COVID-19 infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.


ABSTRACT:

Background

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by an unpredictable disease course, ranging from asymptomatic to severe, life-threatening infections. Asymptomatic COVID-19 infections have been described, and the aim of this systematic review was to summarise their presentation forms.

Methods

We searched PubMed® and Google® (1 December 2019 to 29 March 2020) and extracted age, laboratory findings, and computed tomography (CT) scans. Pooled incidence rates of clinical characteristics were analyzed using random-effect models.

Results

In total, 506 patients from 34 studies (68 single cases and 438 from case-series) with an asymptomatic course were identified. Patients with normal radiology were younger (19.59 ± 17.17 years) than patients with abnormal radiology (39.14 ± 26.70 years) (p-value = 0.013). Despite being asymptomatic, CT investigations revealed abnormalities in 62.2% of the cases; ground-glass opacities were most frequently observed (43.09% by meta-analysis). Most studies reported normal laboratory findings (61.74% by meta-analysis).

Conclusions

More than half of the patients without any symptoms present with CT abnormalities. Asymptomatic patients may be contagious and thus a potential source of transmission of COVID-19.

SUBMITTER: Kronbichler A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7832751 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Asymptomatic patients as a source of COVID-19 infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Kronbichler Andreas A   Kresse Daniela D   Yoon Sojung S   Lee Keum Hwa KH   Effenberger Maria M   Shin Jae Il JI  

International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases 20200617


<h4>Background</h4>Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by an unpredictable disease course, ranging from asymptomatic to severe, life-threatening infections. Asymptomatic COVID-19 infections have been described, and the aim of this systematic review was to summarise their presentation forms.<h4>Methods</h4>We searched PubMed® and Google® (1 December 2019 to 29 March 2020) and extracted age, laboratory findings, and computed tomography (CT) scans. Pooled incidence rates of clinica  ...[more]

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