RT-PCR BASED SCREENING STUDIES OF 4240 PATIENTS FOR SARS COV-2 DURING ITS ESCALATION PHASE: A STUDY FROM WESTERN INDIAN SUBCONTINENT.

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2 originated from Wuhan, China. The SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly to the entire world and has been declared as pandemic by the WHO. Study aimed to describe the RT-PCR diagnostics proles of the SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in Gujarat with respect to age, sex, travel history, symptoms and underlying conditions. This is retrospective Methods & Study design: cohort study in patients with COVID19, screened from 16/04/20 to 25/05/20, in three districts of Gujarat. Positive cases were conrmed by qRTPCR, analysed for epidemiological, demographic and clinical characterization. Of Results: 4240 screened, 199 conrmed with SARS-CoV-2, with elder (5.5%), middle aged (25.7%), young (20.1%) and young adult (48.7%), including 143 males and 56 females. Fever (31%) was m/c symptom f/b cough (27%) and sore throat (19%). Approximately 73.4% were asymptomatic and 13 patients had hypertension, diabetes-mellitus, chronic respiratory disease, liver, cardiovascular disease Clinical investiga . Conclusions: tion in SARS-CoV-2 patients of western Indian subcontinent revealed that young adult male was likely to be more susceptible. Screening like fever, cough, sore throat are useful for SARS-CoV-2.