ABSTRACT
Objective: We evaluated patients suspected or confirmed to have coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) to determine predictive factors for the diagnosis of COVID- 19. Method(s): We conducted a retrospective cohort study at The Jikei University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. This study included adult patients who underwent medical examination for suspected or confirmed COVID- 19 in April and May 2020. We analyzed the clinical characteristics, blood test results, and findings of computed tomography of the chest from the medical record system of the hospital. Result(s): Of the 267 patients included in this study, 27 were found to be positive for COVID- 19 on reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV- 2). Of the patients, 128 (47.9%) were men, and the median age was 47 years (interquartile range, 34.5- 65). Twenty- two (8.2%) patients had a history of close contact with a COVID- 19 patient. The most common symptoms were fever, general malaise, and cough. Multivariate analysis with the logistic regression model revealed that close contact, fever for 4 or more days, dysgeusia, and dysosmia were independent predictive factors for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test results being positive for SARS- CoV- 2. Conclusion(s): Patients who have had close contact with a COVID- 19 patient, fever for 4 days or more, dysgeusia, or dysosmia should undergo diagnostic testing for SARS- CoV- 2.Copyright © 2021 Jikei University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.