Influencing factors of virus duration and virus clearance in COVID-19 patients in Shenzhen: A retrospective study.

Background. We aimed to analyze the influencing factors of virus duration and virus clearance in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Shenzhen, China, and to provide our experience in the treatment and management of COVID-19. Methods. The clinical data and laboratory test results of COVID-19 inpatients admitted to the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province from January 2020 to March 2020 were retrospectively collected. In COVID-19 rehabilitation patients, two consecutive negative RT-PCR results on nasopharyngeal swabs were defined as virus clearance. The time from onset of the disease to virus clearance was defined as the virus duration. We analyzed the virus clearance rate at different time points and the impact of clinical features and treatments on virus clearance. Results. A total of 201 patients with COVID-19, including 89 women (44.3%) and 112 men (55.7%), were included in our study. According to the severity of the disease, the patients were divided into no severe patients and severe patients. The overall median virus duration for all patients was 17 days. The overall virus clearance rates within 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks after onset were 1.5%, 36.6%, 73.4%, 90.2%, 97.3%, and 100%, respectively. A multiple linear regression model was performed to analyze the factors influencing virus clearanc.The factors influencing virus clearance within 2 weeks were treatment timing and glucocorticoid usage. The influencing factors for virus clearance within 4 weeks were treatment timing, glucocorticoid usage and age. Conclusion. Treatment timing was related to virus clearance. The earlier the treatment was initiated, the faster the virus clearance. For COVID-19 patients, early detection and early treatment strategies should be adopted. Glucocorticoid usage may be detrimental to virus clearance and should be more restricted. Age > 60 years may also be a detrimental factor for virus clearance.