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. 2021 Mar 10;13(3):452.
doi: 10.3390/v13030452.

A Comparative Systematic Review of COVID-19 and Influenza

Molka Osman  1 , Timothée Klopfenstein  2 , Nabil Belfeki  3 , Vincent Gendrin  2 , Souheil Zayet  2
Affiliations

A Comparative Systematic Review of COVID-19 and Influenza

Molka Osman et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Background: Both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus share similarities such as clinical features and outcome, laboratory, and radiological findings.

Methods: Literature search was done using PubMed to find MEDLINE indexed articles relevant to this study. As of 25 November 2020, the search has been conducted by combining the MeSH words "COVID-19" and "Influenza".

Results: Eighteen articles were finally selected in adult patients. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients, while pulmonary diseases and immunocompromised conditions were significantly more common in influenza patients. The incidence rates of fever, vomiting, ocular and otorhinolaryngological symptoms were found to be significantly higher in influenza patients when compared with COVID-19 patients. However, neurologic symptoms and diarrhea were statistically more frequent in COVID-19 patients. The level of white cell count and procalcitonin was significantly higher in influenza patients, whereas thrombopenia and elevated transaminases were significantly more common in COVID-19 patients. Ground-grass opacities, interlobular septal thickening, and a peripheral distribution were more common in COVID-19 patients than in influenza patients where consolidations and linear opacities were described instead. COVID-19 patients were significantly more often transferred to intensive care unit with a higher rate of mortality.

Conclusions: This study estimated differences of COVID-19 and influenza patients which can help clinicians during the co-circulation of the two viruses.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; clinical features; imaging; influenza; laboratory; systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA guideline flowchart detailing article selection process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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