Comparative study of laboratory parameters and radiological features in symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID 19 patients

 

 

Abstract              Background: Since its first case was reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China the Corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has spread throughout the world leading to a pandemic in 2020. Its presentation can range from mild disease to critical illness and can also be completely asymptomatic. Method: In this study, laboratory parameters and radiological findings of 51 symptomatic and 86 asymptomatic Covid-19 patients, admitted between 24^th March 2020 and 10^th May 2020 in a tertiary care hospital in Kashmir region of India were analysed. Results: Out of the total 137 patients 86(62.8%) were asymptomatic (Group A) and 51 (37.2%) were symptomatic (Group B)..Mean ages in both groups were 37.01 years and 36.87 years respectively with predominance of male gender. Among laboratory parameters leucopenia was present in 5.9% of asymptomatic patients and 23.5% of symptomtatic. Lymphopenia was seen in 25.6% in asymptomatic patients and 37.3% in symptomatic patients. Thrombocytopenia was seen in 31.4% of asymptomatic patients and 39.3% of symptomatic patients. Levels of Serum LDH, CRP, CPK, Serum Ferritin were found higher in symptomatic patients than asymptomatic patients (68.6% versus 47.7%, 27.5% versus 20.9%, 27.5% versus 18.6%,35.3% versus 25.6 % respectively). Characteristic CT findings of ground glass opacities with or without consolidation were more likely and extensive in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic patients (33.3% versus 6.9%) Conclusion: Symptomatic patients of Covid 19 were observed to have more deranged laboratory parameters and abnormal CT findings as compared to asymptomatic patients.

Key Words: COVID 19, Asymptomatic Respiratory Infection, Biochemical Markers, Lung Radiology