RT Journal Article
T1 SARS-CoV-2 viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs is not an independent predictor of unfavorable outcome
A1 Salto-Alejandre, Sonsoles
A1 Berastegui-Cabrera, Judith
A1 Camacho-Martínez, Pedro
A1 Infante-Domínguez, Carmen
A1 Carretero-Ledesma, Marta
A1 Crespo-Rivas, Juan Carlos
A1 Márquez, Eduardo
A1 Lomas, José Manuel
A1 Bueno, Claudio
A1 Amaya, Rosario
A1 Lepe, José Antonio
A1 Cisneros, José Miguel
A1 Pachón, Jerónimo
A1 Cordero, Elisa
A1 Sánchez-Céspedes, Javier
K1 COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing
K1 SARS-CoV-2
K1 Prognosis
K1 Viral Load
K1 Death
K1 Pronóstico
K1 Carga Viral
K1 Muerte
K1 COVID-19
AB The aim was to assess the ability of nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load at first patient's hospital evaluation to predict unfavorable outcomes. We conducted a prospective cohort study including 321 adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 through RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs. Quantitative Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA cycle threshold values were used to calculate the viral load in log10 copies/mL. Disease severity at the end of follow up was categorized into mild, moderate, and severe. Primary endpoint was a composite of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or death (n = 85, 26.4%). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load over the second quartile (≥ 7.35 log10 copies/mL, p = 0.003) and second tertile (≥ 8.27 log10 copies/mL, p = 0.01) were associated to unfavorable outcome in the unadjusted logistic regression analysis. However, in the final multivariable analysis, viral load was not independently associated with an unfavorable outcome. Five predictors were independently associated with increased odds of ICU admission and/or death: age ≥ 70 years, SpO2, neutrophils > 7.5 × 103/µL, lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 300 U/L, and C-reactive protein ≥ 100 mg/L. In summary, nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load on admission is generally high in patients with COVID-19, regardless of illness severity, but it cannot be used as an independent predictor of unfavorable clinical outcome.
PB Springer Nature
YR 2021
FD 2021-06-21
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/3796
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/3796
LA en
NO Salto-Alejandre S, Berastegui-Cabrera J, Camacho-Martínez P, Infante-Domínguez C, Carretero-Ledesma M, Crespo-Rivas JC, et  al. SARS-CoV-2 viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs is not an independent predictor of unfavorable outcome. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 21;11(1):12931
DS RISalud
RD Apr 6, 2025