Predictive Factors for the Diagnosis of Coronavirus Disease 2019

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.