Data_Sheet_1_Clinical characteristics and risk factors analysis of viral shedding time in mildly symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection in Shanghai.PDF

ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors of viral shedding time in mildly symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant (BA.2 and BA2.2) infection in Shanghai, and the effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment, so as to provide a reference basis for epidemic prevention, control and clinical treatment.
MethodsA total of 6,134 asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic Omicron-infected patients admitted to Tianhua Road fangcang shelter hospital in Jinshan, Shanghai, between April 2022 and May 2022 were included. Demographic characteristics and clinical histories were collected and compared in subgroups according to the different durations of viral shedding. Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to explore the association between virus shedding time and clinical variables. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the risk factors for viral shedding time.
ResultMost patients with asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic Omicron infection were male, and more than half of patients had a viral shedding time of 8–15 days. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time of viral shedding: short-duration (≤ 7 days), intermediate-duration (8–15 days) and long-duration group (≥16 days). The proportion of patients aged ≤ 29 years was the highest in the short-duration group (30.2%), whereas the proportion of patients aged 50–64 yeas was the highest in the long-duration group (37.9%). The proportion of patients with the chronic non-communicable diseases among the short-, intermediate- and long-duration groups was 6.2, 9.4, and 14.9%, respectively. Among them, hypertension was the most found (4.9, 7.8, and 11.7%, respectively). By multivariate analyses, we identified that viral shedding time of Omicron variants was independently negatively correlated with male patients, TCM treatment, and manual laborers, while it was independently positively associated with age and hypertension. Additionally, TCM treatment could significantly shorten the length of viral shedding time, especially for men, age ≥30 years, comorbid chronic non-communicable diseases, unemployed people and manual worker.
ConclusionsOur results suggested that age and hypertension were independent risk factors for the duration of viral shedding in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic omicron infected patients. TCM can effectively shorten viral shedding time.

### 研究目的
分析上海地区严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2）奥密克戎变异株（Omicron variant）BA.2及BA.2.2亚型感染的轻症及无症状感染者的病毒排毒时间的临床特征与危险因素，以及中医（traditional Chinese medicine, TCM）治疗的影响，为疫情防控与临床诊疗提供参考依据。
### 研究方法
纳入2022年4月至2022年5月期间，上海金山天华路方舱医院收治的6134例无症状或轻症奥密克戎感染患者。收集患者的人口学特征与临床病史，并根据病毒排毒时长的不同进行亚组比较。采用Spearman相关分析（Spearman's correlation analysis）探究病毒排毒时间与临床变量的关联，使用多重线性回归（multiple linear regression）评估病毒排毒时间的危险因素。
### 研究结果
多数轻症及无症状奥密克戎感染者为男性，超半数患者的病毒排毒时长为8~15天。将患者按病毒排毒时间分为三组：短时长组（≤7天）、中时长组（8~15天）及长时长组（≥16天）。≤29岁患者占比在短时长组最高（30.2%），而50~64岁患者占比在长时长组最高（37.9%）。短、中、长时长组的慢性非传染性疾病患病率分别为6.2%、9.4%及14.9%，其中高血压最为常见（分别为4.9%、7.8%及11.7%）。多因素分析结果显示，奥密克戎变异株的病毒排毒时间与男性、中医治疗及体力劳动者呈独立负相关，而与年龄及高血压呈独立正相关。此外，中医治疗可显著缩短病毒排毒时长，尤其在男性、≥30岁人群、合并慢性非传染性疾病患者、无业人群及体力劳动者中效果更为突出。
### 研究结论
本研究结果表明，年龄与高血压是无症状及轻症奥密克戎感染者病毒排毒时长的独立危险因素。中医治疗可有效缩短病毒排毒时间。