The mystery of COVID-19 reinfections: A global systematic review and meta-analysis

December 4, 2021

Dhillon, R.A., et al.,

Annals of Medicine and Surgery

The authors did a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide evidence on COVID-19 reinfections, its disease spectrum, management, and outcomes. They conducted an exhaustive literature search and included observational studies that reported a PCR-confirmed infection and reinfection. They included 81 studies from 22 countries; the pooled studies included 557 reinfection cases. Mean age was 46.2 (+/- 19 years), 46% were male and one third reported at least one comorbidity. The reported time between first infection and reinfection ranged from 11 to 210 days, the average was 64 days. Seventy-five percent of cases were mildly symptomatic and only 10 were severe or critical in the first infection. The total number of asymptomatic cases during the first infection was 53 (9.2%) with an increase to 184 (31.9%) cases noted during reinfection. The number of asymptomatic cases in the review increased from 9.2% in first infection to 31.9% in reinfection. More frequent ICU admission and mechanical ventilation requirement was observed during reinfection. Fever was the most reported symptom both for infection and reinfection and antiviral therapy was the most used treatment.

Dhillon, R.A., et al., The mystery of COVID-19 reinfections: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Med Surg (Lond), 2021. 72: p. 103130.

Partners