Investigating The Flux of Covid-19 Viral Load and It’s Impact on Severity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46568/bios.v5i2-3-4.195Keywords:
COVID-19, Viral load, Clinical courseAbstract
Amidst the Coronavirus disease -2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, understanding viral load's significance for global patient outcomes is crucial. The strain from SARS-CoV-2 underscores the urgency of deciphering its impact on disease severity. This cross-section study, conducted at Ziauddin University between April and September 2021, aims to investigate the potential correlation between COVID-19 viral load, measured by RT PCR CT values, and disease severity and outcome. A total of 103 COVID-19 patients identified via PCR testing, were enrolled, and their demographic data were collected from electronic records. Viral load analysis was conducted using multiplex PCR post-RNA extraction. Ethical considerations, including informed consent and approval from the Ethical Review Committee (ERC), were diligently followed throughout the study. Top of Form the majority of PCR-positive patients exhibited severe (26.2%) or moderate (26.2%) disease, with a higher prevalence among males (52.8%) and those aged 50 years or older (74.8%). Our analysis found no statistically significant difference in viral load among different severity groups. Despite the lack of significant differences, Viral load tended to increase with the Severity of COVID-19. Furthermore, no statistical difference in means of viral load concerning age and gender was observed. In conclusion, while the viral load may increase with disease severity, our findings suggest no significant relationship between the viral load and the severity of COVID-19 in this study, providing important insights into the understanding of disease progression and its clinical management.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Urfa Tabassum Kayani, Santosh Kumar Sidhwani, Nida Hussain, Ambrina Khatoon, Ashok Kumar, Talat Mirza
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