Spatial and temporal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Anne Weiss, Mads Jellingsø, Morten Otto Alexander Sommer*

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Background: The spatial and temporal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 have been described in case series and retrospective studies. In this study, we provide a coherent overview of the duration of viral detection and viral RNA load in COVID-19 patients, stratified by specimen type, clinical severity, and age. Method: We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane review database for studies published between 1.11.2019 and 23.04.2020. We pooled the data of selected studies (22/7226 (650 patients) for meta-analysis) to estimate duration of viral detection and visualized viral load over time. Findings: Our analysis showed consistent viral detection from specimen from the upper respiratory tract (URT), the lower respiratory tract (LRT), and faeces, irrespective of the clinical severity of COVID-19. Our analysis suggests that SARS-CoV-2 persists for a longer duration in the LRT compared to the URT in adult patients (5•7 days in mild; 5•9 days in moderate-severe patients). The differences in the duration of viral detection between mild and moderate-severe patients is limited in the LRT, but an indication of longer duration of viral detection for moderate-severe patients was observed in feces (15 days in mild vs. 21 days in moderate-severe patients) and the URT (12 days in mild vs. 16 days in moderate-severe patients). Further, viral load was demonstrated to peak in earlier stages of infection in the URT compared to LRT. Interpretation: This review may aid mathematical modelling and help in defining appropriate endpoints for clinical trails with antivirals in COVID-19. Funding: The project has received funding support from Innovation Fund Denmark.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102916
JournalEBioMedicine
Volume58
ISSN2352-3964
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Systematic review
  • Viral dynamics

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