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Review
. 2025 Jun;41(6):1788-1798.
doi: 10.12669/pjms.41.6.12201.

Coronavirus-two infection among adults: A scoping review of literature published in 2023-24

Shehnoor Azhar  1 , Naomi Cano Ibañez  2 , Javier Zamora  3 , Aurora Bueno Cavanillas  4
Affiliations
Review

Coronavirus-two infection among adults: A scoping review of literature published in 2023-24

Shehnoor Azhar et al. Pak J Med Sci. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To identify and synthesize evidence on Coronavirus-two infection (SARS-CoV-2) among adults diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction.

Methods: The protocol was registered on Open Science Forum (doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/2837X). Three bibliographic databases (Medline, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) were searched from July 2024 to December 2024. Peer-reviewed, quantitative studies with participants aged 18 and over were eligible to enlist potential risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction PCR). The evidence was summarized as illustrations and tabulations with risk factors grouped into various categories. EndNote 20 was used for deduplications and organization of the literature.

Results: Of 28,688 unique entries searched, 299 were shortlisted and 32 full-text manuscripts selected from 17 countries. There were two (6.2%) manuscripts based on real-time surveillance of at-risk populations. A total of 42 individual risk factors were examined in the evidence.

Conclusion: Low socioeconomic status and occupation were consistent risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with minimal representation from low- and middle-income countries in the evidence body. Future research should prioritize standardized methods and inclusion of underrepresented regions to enhance global applicability and inform targeted public health interventions.

Keywords: COVID-19; Low socioeconomic status; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Self care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None.

Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1
Flow diagram for the scoping review on the risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection among adults diagnosed by the Polymerase Chain Reaction. Illustrated under PRISMA-ScR
Fig.2
Fig.2
Geographic distribution of 32 manuscripts on risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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