Caracterização sociodemográfica e sintomatológica de indivíduos positivos para o SARS-CoV-2 residentes nas cidades de Governador Valadares e Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais

Abstract

COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The signs and symptoms presented by infected individuals can range from mild to severe with acute respiratory failure. This study aimed to characterize SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals and identify the main symptoms related to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. A sociodemographic and health questionnaire was applied and biological samples (nasopharyngeal swab) were collected from 219 patients with flu-like symptoms who were waiting in waiting rooms at Health Units in the cities of Governador Valadares (n=148) and Belo Horizonte (n=71) between February and June 2021. Of the participants, 116 (52.97%) were men and 103 (47.03%) women. Of the individuals living in Governador Valadares, 78 were positive (COVID-19 +), the majority being female, n= 45 (57.69%), with an average age of 40.38 ± 15.34. The symptoms that proved to be significant were anosmia and eye pain, increasing the likelihood of an individual with flu-like syndrome testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 by 14 times. In addition, it was noted that the duration of symptoms in days increases the chance of the patient testing positive for the disease by 1.12 times, while the presence of eye pain increases this chance by 12 times. Of the individuals living in Belo Horizonte, 50 tested positive (COVID-19 +), the majority being male, n=34 (67.9%), with a mean age of 44.8 ± 13.04, significantly different compared to individuals with other flu-like syndromes, the control group (COVID-19 -) (34.95 ± 11.85). The significant symptoms were runny nose and sore throat, decreasing the chance by 73% and 70%, respectively, of individuals with flu syndrome testing positive for COVID-19. It was also observed that with each additional day of symptoms, the chance of testing positive increases by 5 times. However, nausea and sore throat reduce the chances of being diagnosed as SARS-CoV-2 positive by 99.99% and 99.97%, respectively. When the two cities in Minas Gerais were characterized together, 128 positive individuals were observed, 67 (52.34%) of whom were male with a mean age of 42.11 ± 14.54, significantly higher compared to the control group (COVID-19 -) which was 36.97 ± 14.14. The symptoms ageusia (2.2 times), anosmia (6.5 times), cough (2 times), myalgia and fever (1.9 times) and eye pain (5.3 times) significantly increased the likelihood of an individual with flu-like syndrome testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. Logistic regression analysis showed that the duration of symptoms increased the chance of a positive diagnosis by 1.21 times. Anosmia, fever and eye pain increase the chances by 7, 2 and 7 times, while sore throat decreases by 61%. The duration of symptoms, as well as the symptoms: anosmia, fever and eye pain significantly increase the likelihood of individuals with flu-like syndrome testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, while nausea and sore throat reduce the chances. These findings highlight the importance of early recognition of symptoms for effective diagnosis and control of COVID-19, underscoring the variation in symptom patterns in different locations.