Sinais e sintomas iniciais de pacientes com síndrome respiratória aguda grave: relação com o agente etiológico viral

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the relationship between self-reported symptoms by hospitalized patients and the etiologic agent of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Methods: Cross-sectional study, including patients aged at least 18 years, of both sexes, hospitalized for SARS in a tertiary hospital between October 2021 and August 2022. Patients answered a standardized questionnaire regarding clinical and epidemiological data, and nasopharyngeal sample was collected by using a rayon swab , which had the RNA extracted and tested for positivity for Influenza A (FluA) and SARS-CoV-2 by real-time PCR using the SYBR Green method. The data were presented descriptively, and the signs and symptoms and the viral positivity were related by Fisher's Exact Test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The study has included 42 patients, 59.5% female, 57.1% elderly, 77.3% white, 81% living in urban areas and 73.8% not working. The majority has reported previous or current smoking (54.8%), non-alcoholic habits (73.8%) and 78.6% presented some comorbidity, being systemic arterial hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus the most prevalent. The most reported signs and symptoms were cough (66.7%), tiredness (64.3%) and dyspnea (61.9%). A total of 38 samples were tested, of which 9.5% were positive for FluA and 66.7% for SARS-CoV-2. No significant differences were found between SARS-causing virus and the presence of signs and symptoms. Conclusion: In the studied population, hospitalizations caused by SARS affect more women and the elderly, with associated comorbidities. The most reported symptoms were cough, tiredness and dyspnea, with SARS-CoV-2 being the most related agent, evidencing the pathogenicity of this virus.