Predictors of MERS-CoV infection: A large case control study of patients presenting with ILI at a MERS-CoV referral hospital in Saudi Arabia. Issue 5 (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mohd, Hamzah A.; Memish, Ziad A.; Alfaraj, Sarah H.; McClish, Donna; Altuwaijri, Talal; Alanazi, Marzouqah S.; Aloqiel, Saleh A.; Alenzi, Ahmed M.; Bafaqeeh, Fahad; Mohamed, Amal M.; Aldosari, Kamel; Ghazal, Sameeh
• Is Part Of: Travel medicine and infectious disease. Volume 14:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 464
• Page End: 470
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Middle East Respirator Syndrome -- MERS-CoV -- Coronavirus -- Predictors -- Mortality; Travel -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.09.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-8939

Abstract

Summary: Background: A case control study to better characterize the clinical features, laboratory, and radiological abnormalities associated with MERS-CoV infection in order to help with early identification of this syndrome from other respiratory infections. Methods: Eighty patients admitted to a hospital in Riyadh, diagnosed with MERS-CoV infection based on RT-PCR were matched on age, sex, and the presence of a co-morbid condition on a basis of 1:2 to other patients admitted with respiratory symptoms and tested negative for MERS-CoV on RT-PCR. Results: None of the reported MERS-CoV presenting symptoms was significantly associated with being infected with MERS-CoV. On the other hand, WBC count was significantly lower in patients with confirmed MERS-CoV infection (median 5.7 vs 9.3, P: 0.0004). Neutrophil count was as well significantly lower in MERS-CoV patients (median 3.7 vs 6.7, P: 0.0001). Both AST, and ALT values were significantly higher in MERS-CoV infected group (AST median 42 vs 36, P: 0.03, and ALT median 33 vs 28, P: 0.003). Overall our MERS-CoV mortality rate was (10%) below the national figure of (40%). Conclusions: None of the presenting symptoms are specific for MERS-CoV infection. And out of all the investigations WBC, neutrophil counts, AST and ALT values have some predictive utility.