Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36575501›Full record

ArticleTropical medicine and health2022

Asymptomatic versus symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection: a cross-sectional seroprevalence study.

Engy Mohamed El-Ghitany, Mona H Hashish, Azza Galal Farghaly, Eman A Omran, Nermin A Osman, Marwa M Fekry

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tropical medicine and health, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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  4. Review: Known, Emerging, and Remerging Pharyngitis Pathogens.The Journal of infectious diseases · 2024
    Review
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  7. The impact of mild COVID-19 on medium-term respiratory function.African journal of thoracic and critical care medicine · 2024
    Article
  8. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Engy Mohamed El-GhitanyDepartment of Tropical Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Mona H HashishDepartment of Microbiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Azza Galal FarghalyDepartment of Tropical Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Eman A OmranDepartment of Microbiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt. hiph.eomran@alexu.edu.eg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3173-304X
Nermin A OsmanBiomedical Informatics and Medical Statistics Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Marwa M FekryDepartment of Microbiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Alexandria University · EG

Funding

Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University IRB number: 00012098- FWA number: 00018699Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University serial number :0305136
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection predisposes patients to develop complications, the asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection state is of public health importance being a hidden source of infection. Moreover, the asymptomatic state may camouflage the actual burden of the disease.

methodsData of 1434 seropositive participants for SARS-CoV-2 spike (anti-S) and/or nucleocapsid antibodies (anti-N) were retrieved from a larger cross-sectional survey on COVID-19. Relevant data were retrieved from records including socio-demographic, medical, and behavioral characteristics of seropositive participants as well as history of COVID-19 symptoms during the last 6 months. Symptomatic/asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was categorized based on the history of the presence or absence of COVID-19 symptoms.

resultsThe rate of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was 34.9%. There was a statistically significant difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic participants regarding age, residence, medical conditions, habits, and infection control measures. The number of symptoms was positively correlated with anti-S titer and both were positively correlated with adult body mass index. Slum areas residence, client-facing occupation or being a healthcare worker, having lung disease, having blood group type A, never practicing exercise or social distancing, never using soap for hand washing, and minimal engagement in online working/studying were independent factors associated with the symptomatic state. Patients having less than three symptoms were less likely to be diagnosed by any means.

conclusionsOne-third of SARS-CoV-2 infections in our study were asymptomatic. This mandates applying proper measures to prevent transmission even from apparently healthy individuals. Modifiable factors associated with symptomatic infection should be controlled to reduce the risk of COVID-19 complications.

Indexed as

Anti-NAnti-SAsymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infectionSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID36575501
PMCPMC9792933
OpenAlexW4313248845

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.