High Probability of Long Diagnostic Delay in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Cases with Unknown Transmission Route in Japan

Bibliographic Data

ID15501820
AuthorsTsuyoshi Ogata (0000-0002-3261-888X, Osaka Prefectural Government, corresponding author), Harumi Tanaka (0000-0001-9033-0035, Osaka Prefectural Government), Hideo Tanaka (Fujiidera Public Health Center of Osaka Prefectural Government, Fujiidera 583-0024, Japan)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue22
Pages8655-8655
Publication date2020-11-21
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17228655
PMID33233409
OpenAlexW3109386185
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited14

Long diagnostic delays (LDDs) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might decrease the effectiveness of patient isolation in reducing subsequent transmission. We assumed that direction of government considerably increased probability of LDD among COVID-19 cases with unknown exposure in Japan. This study aimed to investigate association of route of case detection and proportion of LDD of COVID-19 in Japan. We included confirmed COVID-19 patients with symptom onset between the ninth and eleventh week in 2020, in 6 prefectures of Japan. LDD was defined as the duration between COVID-19 symptom onset and confirmation ≥6 days. We used multivariable logistic regression analyses to elucidate factors associated with LDD. The mean diagnostic delay for 364 cases was 6.3 days. Proportion of LDD was 38% for cases with known exposure, and 65% for cases with unknown exposure. The probability of LDD in cases with unknown exposure was significantly higher than that for known exposure cases (adjusted odds ratio: 2.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.354-4.21). Early PCR test after symptom onset, strengthening of PCR test capacity, and investigations to study impact of high proportion of LDD in cases without known exposure might be necessary

Confidence interval · Coronavirus · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Logistic regression · Odds ratio · Pneumonia · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · Transmission (telecommunications · COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies · COVID-19 epidemiological studies · Medicine · SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing · Internal Medicine

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