Characterizing Symptom Profiles in a Military Outpatient Cohort With COVID-19 in the Île-de-France Region

The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, driven by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, precipitated an unprecedented public health crisis, necessitating comprehensive response worldwide. The Ile-De-France region has been particularly affected, leading to rapid health care system strain and hospital saturation. Within this context, the 1st Armed Forces Medical Centre swiftly adapted its primary care services to cater to the unique needs of military personnel, leveraging telemedicine technologies for efficient health care delivery.

This study undertook an observational retrospective analysis to characterize the epidemiological profile of soldiers seeking outpatient care for non-severe COVID-19 symptoms at the 1st Armed Forces Medical Centre's sub-centers between March and December 2020. Electronic medical records of patients were scrutinized to discern patterns in symptom presentation and evolution over time.

The cross-section sample consisted of 519 patients, predominantly males (71%), with an average age of 38 years. Predominant symptoms reported were asthenia (43%), cephalalgia (41%), myalgia (40%), pyrexia (38%), and tussis (33%). A significant proportion of patients (33%) were asymptomatic at the follow-up consultations, marking a notable increase from initial assessments (14%). Although symptoms indicative of flu-like syndrome and sore throat exhibited regression between consultations, certain manifestations, such as anosmia, ageusia, and dyspnea, persisted without significant variance. Our analysis delineated five distinct symptom profiles within the cohort.

This study provides valuable insights into the clinical course of non-severe COVID-19 cases among military personnel receiving outpatient care, delineating five distinct symptom profiles. This complexity underscores the challenges in predicting and managing symptomatology effectively. Our findings align with existing literature but offer a unique perspective on military cohorts. Notably, in confined military settings with predominantly young and healthy individuals, symptomatic presentations tend to be milder. Robust public health interventions, including quarantine and contact tracing, are crucial to maintaining operational readiness amidst the pandemic's challenges.