Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Age: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Issue 3 (1st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Bing; Andraweera, Prabha; Elliott, Salenna; Mohammed, Hassen; Lassi, Zohra; Twigger, Ashley; Borgas, Chloe; Gunasekera, Shehani; Ladhani, Shamez; Marshall, Helen Siobhan
• Is Part Of: Pediatric infectious disease journal. Volume 42:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: 232
• Page End: 239
• Publication Date: 2022-12-01
• Subjects: asymptomatic proportion -- SARS -- CoV -- 2 infection -- systematic review -- meta -- analysis; Communicable diseases in children -- Periodicals; Infection in children -- Periodicals; 618.929
• DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003791
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-3668

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections have raised concerns for public health policies to manage epidemics. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the age-specific proportion of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected persons globally by year of age. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, medRxiv and Google Scholar on September 10, 2020, and March 1, 2021. We included studies conducted during January to December 2020, before routine vaccination against COVID-19. Because we expected the relationship between the asymptomatic proportion and age to be nonlinear, multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression (QR decomposition) with a restricted cubic spline was used to model asymptomatic proportions as a function of age. Results: A total of 38 studies were included in the meta-analysis. In total, 6556 of 14, 850 cases were reported as asymptomatic. The overall estimate of the proportion of people who became infected with SARS-CoV-2 and remained asymptomatic throughout infection was 44.1% (6556/14, 850, 95% CI: 43.3%–45.0%). The predicted asymptomatic proportion peaked in children (36.2%, 95% CI: 26.0%–46.5%) at 13.5 years, gradually decreased by age and was lowest at 90.5 years of age (8.1%, 95% CI: 3.4%–12.7%). Conclusions: Given the high rates of asymptomatic carriage in adolescents and young adults and their active role in virus transmission in the community, heightened vigilance and public health strategies are needed among these individuals to prevent disease transmission.