ISSN: 2639-2038
Authors: Turabian JL*
Objective: To assess clinical-epidemiological characteristics that can help to consider the diagnosis of COVID-19 in acute respiratory infections when diagnostic tests are not available. Methodology: A retrospective study was carried out on clinical and epidemiological variables in patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infection who consulted at a health center in Toledo, Spain, from March 9 to April 3, 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: with acute respiratory symptoms and diagnosis of COVID-19 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and 2) with acute respiratory symptoms and without COVID-19 PCR. Results: Eighty patients were included, 18 in the COVID-19 positive group, and 62 patients with clinical symptoms of acute respiratory infection without COVID-19 test. In the group of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, the presence of fever, dyspnea, diarrhea, nausea / vomiting, signs of pneumonia, long duration of symptoms, being male, older than 65 years, being on previous treatment with angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), presenting chronic diseases of the circulatory system, self-communication of possible contact with a COVID-19 patient, visiting the emergency services or the hospital, and being health personnel / working in healthcare settings, were statistically more frequent. Conclusion: It is suggested that, in situations where the COVID-19 diagnostic test is not initially performed, when there was the presence of: 1) from the clinical point of view: fever, dyspnea, nausea / vomiting, or signs physical pneumonia, long duration of symptoms, in male patients or over 65 years; and / or 2) from the epidemiological point of view: previous treatment with ACE inhibitors or ARBs, presence of chronic diseases of the circulatory system, self-communication of possible contact with a COVID-19 patient, the visit to the services of emergency or hospital, or being a health professional / working in healthcare settings, patient should be considered as probable COVID-19, for the purposes of isolation, search for contacts, conducting a diagnostic PCR test, surveillance and treatment if appropriate.
Keywords: Coronavirus; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; General Practice; Epidemiology; Population Surveillance/methods; Public Health Practice
