Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Patients with Clinical Signs Suggestive of COVID-19 in the Municipality of Paraná.

Objective

To perform SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) epidemiology in patients with clinical signs suggestive of COVID-19.

Methods

From April 2020 to December 2021, data were collected and analyzed by the RT-PCR nasopharyngeal secretions from patients in the metropolitan region of Umuarama.

Results

The development profile of COVID-19 prevailed in the elderly. Furthermore, this work confirmed that females are more predisposed to contact with the virus and consequently higher prevalence (23.4%). Regarding clinical presentation, the highest number of positive cases (38.8%) was found in patients with more than three symptoms (cough, myalgia, and sore throat). The number of pre-existing morbidities increased the chance of infection by the virus, with a prevalence of three morbidities (30%). The different variables analyzed showed a significant effect (p < 0.01) in the chi-square or Fisher's exact test.

Conclusion

The easy spread of the virus was proven by the investigation of close contact with infected or suspected COVID-19 people, which showed greater positivity.