Changes of clinical characteristics of asymptomatic patients with positive SARS-Cov-2 nucleic acid test during treatment cycle and related risk factors

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study was designed to explore the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and related influencing factors for asymptomatic patients with positive Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) nucleic acid test. Methods: Clinical data of 1568 patients with positive SARS-Cov-2 nucleic acid test (SNAT) were collected retrospectively. The patients were assigned to an asymptomatic group and a symptomatic group according to the existence of clinical symptoms when they got positive result in nucleic acid test, and the clinical data of the two groups were analyzed and compared. In addition, the data of asymptomatic patients who showed clinical symptoms later and the results of two-week follow-up after cure were analyzed. Results: Among all enrolled patients, there were 1489 patients with positive symptoms and 79 asymptomatic patients, including 34 patients who developed symptoms during treatment. Logistic analysis revealed that age ≤45 years (OR=2.722, P<0.001), history of diabetes mellitus (OR=0.446, P=0.007), and history of cancer (OR=0.259, P=0.008) were independent factors for asymptomatic presentation in patients with positive SNAT, and age ≥46 years (OR=1.562, P=0.012) and history of hypertension (OR=2.077, P<0.001) were risk factors for the occurrence of clinical symptoms in asymptomatic patients with positive SNAT during hospitalization. During the follow-up after cure, 8 patients got reoccurring positive SNAT result. Conclusion: Asymptomatic patients with positive SNAT are mostly young and middle-aged people, and old age and hypertension are risk factors for the occurrence of positive clinical characteristics in asymptomatic patients.