British scientists have determined that there are six different “types” of COVID-19 that are distinguished by specific groups of symptoms, which could aid in the treatment of fatal infection.
The study, conducted by King’s College London, analyzed data from around 1,600 coronavirus patients from the United Kingdom and the United States who regularly recorded their symptoms in a follow-up app in March and April.
The findings revealed that six distinct groups of symptoms emerge on the fifth day of virus progression, which the researchers say could help doctors better treat individual patients by allowing them to predict what level of hospital care they need.
“Our study illustrates the importance of monitoring symptoms over time to make our individual risk predictions and results more sophisticated and accurate,” said lead researcher Dr. Carole Sudre of King’s College London. .
“This approach is helping us understand the developing history of this disease in each patient so that they can get the best care.”
All of the people who recorded their symptoms experienced loss of smell and headaches, but then experienced a variable combination of less-known side effects as the disease began, including confusion, abdominal pain, and shortness of breath.
The six groups were broken down in order of severity as follows:
- Flu without fever: headache, loss of smell, muscle aches, cough, sore throat, chest pain, no fever.
- Flu with fever: headache, loss of smell, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, fever, loss of appetite.
- Gastrointestinal: headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhea, sore throat, chest pain, no cough.
- Level one severe, fatigue: headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue.
- Level two severe, confusion: headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain.
- Severe, abdominal and respiratory level three: headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain.
The first three groups were more common in younger, healthier patients, while the last three more “severe” symptoms were more likely in older patients or those with pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, lung disease, and obesity.
Only 1.5% of people with group 1, 4.4% of people with group 2, and 3.3% of people with group 3 needed respiratory support, such as extra oxygen or ventilators, the researchers found.
But the probability of needing respiratory support increased in the last three groups, with 8.6%, 9.9% and 19.8% respectively.
Almost half of the patients in group 6 ended up in the hospital, compared to only 16% of those in group 1. The majority of COVID-19 patients who need breathing come to the hospital around day 13 after its first symptoms, the scientists said.
But being able to identify which group a patient falls on the fifth day of symptoms would give doctors an early warning about whether the person will need intensive care.
“These findings have important implications for the care and monitoring of people who are most vulnerable to severe COVID-19,” said Dr. Claire Steves of King’s College London.
“If you can predict who these people are on the fifth day, you have time to provide them with support and early interventions, such as monitoring blood sugar and oxygen levels, and making sure they are properly hydrated: simple care that could be provided in the home, avoiding hospitalizations and saving lives. “
The first group made up the majority of the participants, with 462 patients, while there were 315 patients in the second group, 216 in the third, 280 in the fourth, 213 in the fifth, and 167 in the sixth.
The study has not been peer reviewed.
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