Symptom Profiles of a Convenience Sample of Patients with COVID-19 - United States, January-April 2020

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first detected in the United States in January 2020 (1), and by mid-July, approximately 3.4 million cases had been reported in the United States (2). Information about symptoms among U.S. COVID-19 patients is limited, especially among nonhospitalized patients. To better understand symptom profiles of patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in the United States, CDC used an optional questionnaire to collect detailed information on a convenience sample of COVID-19 patients from participating states. Symptom data were analyzed by age group, sex, hospitalization status, and symptom onset date relative to expansion of testing guidelines on March 8, 2020 (3). Among 164 symptomatic patients with known onset during January 14-April 4, 2020, a total of 158 (96%) reported fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Among 57 hospitalized adult patients (aged ≥18 years), 39 (68%) reported all three of these symptoms, compared with 25 (31%) of the 81 nonhospitalized adult patients. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and other symptoms, such as chills, myalgia, headache, and fatigue, also were commonly reported, especially after expansion of testing guidelines. To aid prompt recognition of COVID-19, clinicians and public health professionals should be aware that COVID-19 can cause a wide variety of symptoms.

FIGURE

Reported symptoms among 164 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, by age and hospitalization status*^,†,§ — United States, January–April 2020 Abbreviation: COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019. * Seventeen persons with missing age or hospitalization status, or who were hospitalized for public health purposes (isolation), are included in the total but excluded from subgroups. ^† Chest pain or discomfort includes the solicited symptom “chest pain,” as well as free text key words “chest fullness,” “chest tightness,” “chest pressure,” or “chest discomfort.” ^§ Symptoms of arthralgia, dizziness, nasal congestion, night sweats, and changes in smell or taste were captured from free text write-in.