Prevalence and correlation of symptoms and comorbidities in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Meshbahur , Bhattacharjee Badhan , Farhana Zaki , Hamiduzzaman Mohammad , Chowdhury Muhammad Abdul Baker , Hossain Mohammad Sorowar , Siddiqee Mahbubul H , Islam Md. Ziaul , Raheem Enayetur , Uddin Md. Jamal 
Published: August 2020

Background

The COVID-19 affected millions of people, and the patients present a constellation of symptoms and comorbidities. We aimed to chronicle the prevalence and correlations of symptoms and comorbidities, and associated covariates among the patients.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis [PROSPERO registration: CRD42020182677]. Databases [PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, WHO, Semantic Scholar, and COVID-19 Primer] were searched for clinical studies published in English from January 1 to April 20, 2020. The pooled prevalence of symptoms and comorbidities were identified using the random effect model, and sub-groups analysis of patients’ age and locations were investigated. A multivariable factor analysis was also performed to show the correlation among symptoms, comorbidities and age of the COVID-19 patients.

Findings

Twenty-nine articles [China (24); Outside of China (5)], with 4,884 COVID-19 patients were included in this systematic review. The meta-analysis investigated 33 symptoms, where fever [84%], cough/dry cough [61%], and fatigue/weakness [42%] were found frequent. Out of 43 comorbidities investigated, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [61%] was a common condition, followed by hypertension [23%] and diabetes [12%]. According to the patients’ age, the prevalence of symptoms like fatigue/weakness, dyspnea/shortness of breath, and anorexia were highly prevalent in older adults [≥50 years] than younger adults [≤50 years]. Diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and COPD/lung disease were more prevalent comorbidities in older adults than younger adults. The patients from outside of China had significantly higher prevalence [p< 0.005] of diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, sore throat, and dyspnea, and the prevalent comorbidities in that region were diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and ARDS. The multivariable factor analysis showed positive association between a group of symptoms and comorbidities, and with the patients’ age.

Interpretation

Epitomizing the correlation of symptoms of COVID-19 with comorbidities and patients’ age would help clinicians effectively manage the patients.

Summary box

What is already known?

There is scarce evidence on the prevalence of all symptoms and comorbidities in COVID-19 infected older adults and patients from outside of China.

Previously published review studies excluded a wide range of symptoms and comorbidities from their analysis due to limited time-frame.

Study on the correlation of symptoms and comorbidity with age of the COVID-19 patients are not yet to be explored.

What are the new findings?

We investigated all the reported symptoms [33] and comorbidity [43] where fever [84%], cough/dry cough [61%], fatigue/weakness [42%] and dyspnea/shortness of breath [ symptoms, and ARDS [61%], followed by hypertension [23%] and frequent comorbidity.

Key findings, the fatigue/weakness, dyspnea/shortness of breath and anorexia were comparatively higher in older adults than younger adults, and the patients from outside of China had a higher prevalence diarrhoea, fatigue, nausea, sore throat, dyspnea, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and ARDS.

Key findings, the symptoms comprising fever, dyspnea/shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, anorexia and pharyngalgia; and the comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, COPD/lung disease and ARDS were positively correlated with the COVID-19 patient’s age.

What do the new findings imply?

These findings according to patient’s age and geographical variations may help the health care providers and policy makers.

This pioneering efforts in estimating the prevalence and correlations of all frequent symptoms and comorbidities will help the clinicians and disease practitioners like WHO to implement patient-centered interventions.