Introduction:A recent Cochrane review on the diagnostic accuracy of initial signs and symptoms of COVID-19 reported on the lack of evidence from studies conducted in community-based health-care settings. Since a broad spectrum of patients present to primary health-care services, testing for patients with noninfluenza-like illness and atypical presentations is debatable. Hence, there is an urgent need for documenting the early presenting symptoms of COVID-19 among patients seeking medical care in primary health-care settings.Aim:In this study, we aim to document the early symptoms of patients with COVID-19 and the proportion of asymptomatic infection in family medicine centers in South India.Design:This is a retrospective study of the early symptoms of patients who tested positive between June and December 2020. The data and clinical notes of patients were retrieved from the hospital information system.Setting:This study was undertaken by the Department of Family Medicine (DFM) in a private not-for-profit academic institution in South India. The DFM provides primary and secondary health-care services to nearly 1,50,000 patients from the local urban communities.Results:A total of 330 patients were tested for COVID-19 and the study included 94 patients who tested positive. Around 37% participants were asymptomatic. The commonest symptom was fever (58.6%), followed by tiredness/myalgia (48.3%), loss of taste or smell or appetite (43.1%), and cough or cold (37.9%). Most participants (78.2%) were hospitalized and the rest (21.8%) were home-quarantined. Only 5 (5.7%) of them died due to COVID-19 infection.Conclusion:The results of the study reiterates the role of social distancing, self-isolation, proper masking, and greater vaccination coverage as significant public health interventions.
Early Symptoms of Patients With COVID-19 in Family Medicine Centers in South India: A Retrospective Study