No Difference in SARS-CoV-2 Viral Loads and Clearance Time in Symptomatic vs. Asymptomatic Patients

A South Korean cohort study of nonhospitalized patients provides further biological evidence that asymptomatic patients may be contagious.

While case descriptions suggest that asymptomatic individuals can transmit SARS-CoV-2, the relative contribution of asymptomatic individuals to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 remains an area of controversy. This cohort study compared the viral loads and time to clearance between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients.

There were 303 SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals isolated in a dormitory-style facility in Daegu, South Korea, in March, and had their serial viral loads measured. The population was young (median age, 25; range, 22–36), and only 12 (3.9%) had comorbidities. Most patients (63.7%) were symptomatic at the time of isolation. Of the 110 initially asymptomatic individuals, 21 (19%) developed symptoms, at a median of 15 days after diagnosis. …

Reviewing Author

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

No Difference in SARS-CoV-2 Viral Loads and Clearance Time in Symptomatic vs. Asymptomatic Patients

Topics

Reviewing Author