Identification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab sample is a common test for diagnosing COVID-19. However, some patients present clinical, laboratorial, and radiological evidence of COVID-19 infection with negative RT-PCR result(s). Thus, we assessed whether positive results were associated with intubation and mortality. This study was conducted in a Brazilian tertiary hospital from March to August of 2020. All patients had clinical, laboratory, and radiological diagnosis of COVID-19. They were divided into two groups: positive (+) RT-PCR group, with 2292 participants, and negative (−) RT-PCR group, with 706 participants. Patients with negative RT-PCR testing and an alternative most probable diagnosis were excluded from the study. The RT-PCR(+) group presented increased risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and 28-day mortality, when compared to the RT-PCR(−) group. A positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result was independently associated with intubation and 28 day in-hospital mortality. Accordingly, we concluded that patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis based on clinical data, despite a negative RT-PCR test from nasopharyngeal samples, presented more favorable outcomes than patients with positive RT-PCR test(s).
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, intubation, Hospital mortality, COVID-19 testing, 【초록키워드】 Mortality, intensive care, mechanical ventilation, hospital, intensive care unit, 28-day mortality, Diagnosis, intubation, SARS-CoV-2 virus, outcome, RT-PCR, ICU, Laboratory, Nasopharyngeal swab, COVID-19 infection, Patient, COVID-19 diagnosis, SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, PCR test, Admission, in-hospital mortality, positive RT-PCR, RT-PCR test, identification, Hospital stay, evidence of, Radiological Diagnosis, Participants, two groups, RT-PCR testing, increased risk, Clinical data, positive result, Nasopharyngeal samples, diagnosing, positive, nasopharyngeal swab sample, negative RT-PCR, radiological evidence, conducted, the SARS-CoV-2 virus, were excluded, 【제목키워드】 Test, negative,