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Asymptomatic patients as a source of COVID-19 infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Andreas Kronbichler1, Daniela Kresse2, Sojung Yoon3

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension), Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

International Journal of Infectious Diseases : IJID : Official Publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
|June 21, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients often show lung abnormalities on CT scans, even without symptoms. These individuals can still transmit the virus, highlighting the importance of continued public health measures.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Radiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) presents with variable severity.
  • Asymptomatic infections are a recognized aspect of COVID-19.
  • Understanding asymptomatic cases is crucial for transmission control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the presentation forms of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections.
  • To analyze clinical characteristics, including radiology and laboratory findings.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of studies published between December 2019 and March 2020.
  • Searched PubMed and Google databases.
  • Extracted data on age, laboratory findings, and CT scans; analyzed using random-effect models.

Main Results:

  • Identified 506 asymptomatic patients across 34 studies.
  • 62.2% of asymptomatic patients had CT abnormalities, most commonly ground-glass opacities.
  • Younger patients were more likely to have normal radiology compared to older patients.

Conclusions:

  • A significant proportion of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases exhibit radiological abnormalities.
  • Asymptomatic individuals pose a potential risk for COVID-19 transmission.
  • Findings underscore the need for vigilance in managing asymptomatic cases.
Abstract

Keywords:
AsymptomaticCoronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)Meta-analysisSARS-CoV-2

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