British scientists have classified six types of COVID-19. They differ in symptoms and the severity of the disease
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Based on the analysis of data from the COVID Symptom Study application, scientists from King’s College in London distinguished six «types» of COVID-19. Each of them covers a specific range of symptoms, and they differ in the severity of the disease and the need for respiratory support. The British findings could help to quickly identify those most at risk of severe infection who are likely to need to be hospitalized.

  1. Data obtained in March and April from approx. 1600 people with confirmed COVID-19 from Great Britain and the USA were analyzed
  2. Patients reported headache and loss of sense of smell, and additional symptoms that appeared at different times
  3. Six groups of symptoms representing six different ‘types’ of COVID-19 were revealed
  4. More information about the coronavirus epidemic can be found on the TvoiLokony home page

What does the data collected from the COVID Symptom Study application show?

Cough, fever, and loss of sense of smell are the three main symptoms of COVID-19, but they can be accompanied by additional symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, diarrhea, confusion, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, and so on. that the progression of the disease also varies from person to person, from mild flu-like symptoms or a simple rash to severe illness.

Researchers analyzed data obtained in March and April from around 1600 people with confirmed COVID-19 living in the UK and the US. A machine learning algorithm was used for the analysis, which was additionally tested on a set of data from 1000 users from the United Kingdom, the United States and Sweden who registered their symptoms in May.

All patients reported headache and loss of smell, and additional symptoms at different times. Some of them, such as confusion, abdominal pain and shortness of breath, are not commonly considered symptoms of COVID-19, but are characteristic of the most severe form of the disease.

Six types of COVID-19

Six groups of symptoms were revealed that occur at characteristic time points and represent six different types of COVID-19:

  1. Flu-like without fever – headache, loss of smell, muscle aches, cough, sore throat, chest pain, no fever.
  2. Flu-like fever – headache, loss of sense of smell, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, fever, loss of appetite.
  3. Gastrointestinal – headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhea, sore throat, chest pain, no cough.
  4. Severe level one, fatigue – headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue.
  5. Severe level two, confusion – headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain.
  6. Severe third level, abdomen and respiratory system – headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain.

Finally, it was checked whether people experiencing certain groups of symptoms more often required respiratory support (ventilator or oxygen administration). Scientists found that breathing was supported in 1,5 percent. people from the first group, 4,4 percent. from the second group and 3,3 percent. from the third group. These numbers were respectively – 8,6% and 9,9%. and 19,8 percent for the fourth, fifth and sixth groups.

Almost half of the patients in the sixth group were hospitalized, while only 16% of the first group were hospitalized. people. Patients in Groups 4, 5, and 6 were usually older and weaker, more likely to be overweight and had comorbidities (e.g. diabetes or lung disease).

  1. Editors recommend: Do not cough or fever. This is the most important symptom of COVID-19

The application on your phone is a powerful tool to fight the coronavirus pandemic

Scientists also developed a risk model for severe infection, combining information on age, gender, BMI and comorbidities with symptoms reported within five days of onset. As a result, it was possible to predict with a high degree of probability which group the patient belongs to and the risk of hospitalization and respiratory support.

Given that most people who require respiratory support are admitted to hospital on day 13 after the onset of symptoms, it is very important to have eight days for early intervention.

“Our findings could impact the way we care for patients most at risk of severe COVID-19,” said Dr. Claire Steves of King’s College London. – If we predict the development of the disease on the fifth day after diagnosis, we have time for early intervention, such as monitoring oxygen and sugar levels in the blood, and ensuring adequate hydration, which is care that can be provided at home to prevent hospitalization.

‘A data-gathering application can influence the broader understanding of COVID-19’s effects on health,’ said Professor Sebastien Ourselin, lead author of the study.

Are you infected with the coronavirus or someone close to you has COVID-19? Would you like to share your story or report any irregularities that you have witnessed or affected? Write to us at: [email protected]. We guarantee anonymity!

Professor Tim Spector adds: ‘Data is our most powerful tool in the fight against a pandemic. We urge everyone to use the app every day. Thanks to this, we will be able to predict where new outbreaks of infection or the second wave of an epidemic will appear.

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