Duration of COVID-19: Data from an Italian Cohort and Potential Role for Steroids

Microorganisms

Michela Pontolillo¹  Claudio Ucciferri¹  Thomas Schael¹  Katia Falasca¹  Jacopo Vecchiet¹  Marta Di Nicola²  Mara Masciarelli³  Lucia Esposito⁴  MariaTeresa Guagnano⁴  Francesco Cipollone⁴  Ilaria Rossi⁴  Marco Bucci⁴  Francesca Santilli⁴  Andrea Boccatonda⁴  Damiano D’Ardes⁴ 

[1] Azienda Sanitaria Locale n° 2 Abruzzo Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, 66100 Chieti, Italy;Laboratory of Biostatistics, Department of “Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences”, “G. d’Annunzio” University, 66100 Chieti, Italy;Unit of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of “Medicine and Science of Aging”, “G. d′Annunzio” University, 66100 Chieti, Italy;“Clinica Medica” Institute, Department of “Medicine and Science of Aging”, “G. d′Annunzio” University, 66100 Chieti, Italy;

关键词: COVID-19;    SARS-CoV-2;    viral shedding;    steroids;   

DOI  :  10.3390/microorganisms8091327

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The diffusion of SARS-CoV-2, starting from China in December 2019, has led to a pandemic, reaching Italy in February 2020. Previous studies in Asia have shown that the median duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding was approximately 12–20 days. We considered a cohort of patients recovered from COVID-19 showing that the median disease duration between onset and end of COVID-19 symptoms was 27.5 days (interquartile range (IQR): 17.0–33.2) and that the median duration between onset of symptoms and microbiological healing, defined by two consecutive negative nasopharyngeal swabs, was 38 days (IQR: 31.7–50.2). A longer duration of COVID-19 with delayed clinical healing (symptom-free) occurred in patients presenting at admission a lower PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio (p < 0.001), a more severe clinical presentation (p = 0.001) and a lower lymphocyte count (p = 0.035). Moreover, patients presenting at admission a lower PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio and more severe disease showed longer viral shedding (p = 0.031 and p = 0.032, respectively). In addition, patients treated with corticosteroids had delayed clinical healing (p = 0.013).

【 授权许可】

Unknown