COVID-19 symptom duration: associations with age, severity and vaccination status in Brunei Darussalam, 2021

Authors

  • Shi Ying Tan National Isolation Centre, Ministry of Health, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Shyh Poh Teo Department of Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Muhd Syafiq Abdullah National Isolation Centre, Ministry of Health, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam; Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Pui Lin Chong National Isolation Centre, Ministry of Health, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Rosmonaliza Asli National Isolation Centre, Ministry of Health, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Babu Ivan Mani National Isolation Centre, Ministry of Health, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Natalie Riamiza Momin National Isolation Centre, Ministry of Health, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
  • Adrian Chin Ann Lim National Isolation Centre, Ministry of Health, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Noor Affizan Rahman National Isolation Centre, Ministry of Health, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Chee Fui Chong National Isolation Centre, Ministry of Health, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam
  • Vui Heng Chong National Isolation Centre, Ministry of Health, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam; Department of Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam; Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2022.13.4.941

Keywords:

COVID-19, disease severity, symptoms, age groups, COVID-19 vaccines, Brunei

Abstract

Objective: This retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study assessed the duration of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms during the second wave in Brunei Darussalam.

Methods: Data from COVID-19 cases admitted to the National Isolation Centre during 7–30 August 2021 were included in the study. Symptom onset and daily symptom assessments were entered into a database during hospitalization and disease was categorized by severity. The time between symptom onset and hospital admission, the duration of symptoms and length of hospitalization were assessed separately by age group, disease severity and vaccination status using one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc corrections.

Results: Data from 548 cases were included in the study: 55.7% (305) of cases were male, and cases had a mean age of 33.7 years. Overall, 81.3% (446) reported symptoms at admission (mean number of symptoms and standard deviation: 2.8 ± 1.6), with cough (59.1%; 324), fever (38.9%; 213) and sore throat (18.4%; 101) being the most common. Being older, having more severe disease and being unvaccinated were significantly associated with the time between symptom onset and hospital admission, symptom duration and length of hospitalization.

Discussion: Knowing which factors predict the duration of COVID-19 symptoms can help in planning management strategies, such as the duration of isolation, predict the length of hospitalization and treatment, and provide more accurate counselling to patients regarding their illness.

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Published

07-11-2022

How to Cite

1.
Tan SY, Teo SP, Abdullah MS, Chong PL, Asli R, Mani BI, Momin NR, Lim ACA, Rahman NA, Chong CF, Chong VH. COVID-19 symptom duration: associations with age, severity and vaccination status in Brunei Darussalam, 2021. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2022 Nov. 7 [cited 2026 Apr. 10];13(4). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/941

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 4 (2022): October – December

Section

COVID-19: Original Research

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