Dynamics of COVID-19 Symptoms and Changes in Ct Values of RdRp, N and E genes in 1044 Patients Positive for SARS-CoV-2

Mariya Sredkova; Cvetan Popov; Georgi Golemanov; Pencho Tonchev; Vladislav Nankov; Alexander Blazhev; Antoniya Popova; Radostina Mogilska; Valeri Delcheva; Eleonora Kuteva

doi:10.5272/jimab.2022282.4409

Journal of IMAB - Annual Proceeding (Scientific Papers)
Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2022, vol. 28, issue2
Subject Area: Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2022282.4409
Published online: 15 June 2022

Original article
J of IMAB. 2022 Apr-Jun;28(2):4409-4417
DYNAMICS OF COVID-19 SYMPTOMS AND CHANGES IN Ct VALUES OF RdRp, N AND E GENES IN 1044 PATIENTS POSITIVE FOR SARS-CoV-2
Mariya Sredkova¹ , Cvetan Popov¹, Georgi Golemanov¹, Pencho Tonchev², Vladislav Nankov¹, Alexander Blazhev¹, Antoniya Popova¹, Radostina Mogilska¹, Valeri Delcheva¹, Eleonora Kuteva¹,
1) Virology Laboratory, Institute of Science and Research, Medical University, Pleven, Bulgaria.
2) Department of Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Health Care, Medical University, Pleven, Bulgaria.

ABSTRACT:
Purpose: To describe clinical characteristics of patients positive simultaneously for RdRp, N and E genes of SARS-CoV-2 and to analyse dynamics of symptoms and Ct values in the interval from day 0 to day 10 after symptoms onset.
Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of data obtained on the day of specimen collection from 1044 individuals was carried out. Detection of RdRp, E and N genes of SARS-CoV-2 was conducted by RT-PCR. Only patients positive for all three genes were included.
Results: Out of all patients, 47.8% were female, and 52.2% were male with a median age of 60 years, and the elder (>50 years) population constituted 71.5%. The most common comorbidities were cardiovascular disease (44.5%), diabetes mellitus (11.0%), and chronic pulmonary disease (8.6%). The prevalent symptoms at the time of specimen collection were fever (74.7%), cough (67.1%), and dyspnea (39.6%). Fever and cough were leading symptoms in the time interval between zero and the tenth day since the onset of COVID-19. A linear trend for dry cough and dyspnea, with a daily increase of 2.2% and 2.3%, respectively, was observed. Dry cough was the primary discriminator in distinguishing mild and moderate infection. Gradual increase of Ct values of all genes was observed from day 0 to day 10, and day 3 was essential for separating two time intervals.
Conclusions: Flu-like symptoms were leading over the study period. Male sex, older age, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic pulmonary disease were risk factors for infection. Cough, age over 65 years and male sex in the group 33-63 years were predictors of more severe disease.

Keywords: COVID-19, symptoms, dynamics, RT-PCR, Ct values,

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Please cite this article as: Sredkova M, Popov C, Golemanov G, Tonchev P, Nankov V, Blazhev A, Popova A, Mogilska R, Delcheva V, Kuteva E. Dynamics of COVID-19 Symptoms and Changes in Ct Values of RdRp, N and E genes in 1044 Patients Positive for SARS-CoV-2. J of IMAB. 2022 Jan-Mar;28(1):4409-4417. DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2022282.4409

Correspondence to: Mariya Petrova Sredkova, Virology Laboratory, Institute of Science and Research, Medical University – Pleven; 1, St. Kliment Ohridski Str., Pleven, Bulgaria; E-mail: microvir@abv.bg

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Received: 12 January 2022
Published online: 15 June 2022

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