We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Relationship of Age and Viral Load with Clinical and Laboratory Profile in COVID-19 Patients at Presentation.
- Authors
Sarna, Mukesh K.; Rijhwani, Puneet; Sarna, Sudha; Upadhyaya, Shail; Surbhi; Chaudhary, Kailash
- Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by novel SARS-COV-2 has caused a sudden and substantial increase in hospitalisations. The incidence and severity are higher among elderly patients, and those with co-morbidities. Its severity has been linked with the viral load of infection. We aim to investigate the link of age and viral load with patients' symptoms and their laboratory findings at the time of presentation to hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional, observational study of randomly selected COVID-19 RT PCR positive indoor patients. Results: Patients above 50 years of age were more in number than those less than 50 years of age. Shortness of breath, cough (dry/sputum), body ache and fever were the main presenting complaints in both age groups. In patients below 50 years of age, those with a high viral load were reported to have a lower SpO2 (p = 0.07) than patients with a low viral load. In patients above 50 years, those with a high viral load were found to have a lower SpO2 (p = 0.009), higher HRCT scores (CT Severity Score) (p = 0.0002) and higher Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) (p = 0.09), as compared to patients with a low viral load. In patients with a low viral load, the NLR was found to be higher (p = 0.007) in those above 50 years. Finally, in patients with a high viral load, higher HRCT scores (p = 0.08) were found in those above 50 years. Conclusion: Our results indicate that a higher age can adversely affect some biomarkers and disease outcome, irrespective of the viral load of the patients. At the same time, we found that a higher viral load can also adversely affect the severity of disease, irrespective of the age of patients.
- Subjects
VIRAL load; CORONAVIRUS diseases; PANDEMICS; OLDER patients; HOSPITAL care
- Publication
Journal of the Indian Academy of Clinical Medicine, 2021, Vol 22, Issue 3/4, p111
- ISSN
0972-3560
- Publication type
Article