Volume 10, Issue 4 (2024)                   IEM 2024, 10(4): 309-317 | Back to browse issues page


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Tayh G, Elramli A, Agouri S R, Abughnia E, Abdulrahman N Y, Shihab A A et al . Association of Cycle Threshold (Ct) Values of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR with Disease Severity and Symptoms among COVID-19 Patients in Ghadamis, Libya. IEM 2024; 10 (4) :309-317
URL: http://iem.modares.ac.ir/article-4-75868-en.html
1- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Manouba, LR16AGR01, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Ariana, Tunisia. , ghassan.tayh@fst.utm.tn
2- Department of Medical Technology, College of Science and Technology - Qaminis, Benghazi, Libya
3- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Benghazi, Libya.
4- Department Tissue culture plant at Libya Center for Biotechnology Research, Tripoli, Libya.
5- Head of internal medical department in Ghadamis general hospital, Libya.
6- National Center of Disease Control (NCDC) Ghadmes, Libya
7- Department of Environment food, and Biological Application, at Libya Center for Biotechnology Research, Tripoli, Libya.
Abstract:   (410 Views)
Background: This study aimed to assess the relationship between cycle threshold (Ct) values and disease severity, symptoms, and comorbidities in COVID-19-positive individuals.
 Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on COVID-19 patients who were admitted to General Ghadamis hospital and diagnosed with COVID-19 from August 2020 to 2021. The association between Ct values and symptoms, demographic characteristics, and clinical characteristics was analyzed by SPSS analysis.
Findings: A total of 286 patients were included in this study, of whom 53.5% were female, and 46.5% were male, with a median age of 53 years (range: 1–90 years). Among symptomatic individuals, 51.4% had severe COVID-19 symptoms, and 26.6% had mild symptoms. Severe systemic symptoms were significantly associated with older age groups. The majority of elderly patients (66%) exhibited low Ct values (Ct ≤ 24), indicating a high viral load. Additionally, 64.6 and 40.8% of patients with severe and mild symptoms had low Ct values. Symptoms varied significantly across patients with low, medium, and high Ct values. There was a strong correlation between lower Ct values and the presence of comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular accident, and cancer.
Conclusion: Compared to asymptomatic individuals, most symptomatic patients with severe and mild symptoms had significantly lower Ct values. These findings highlight the critical role of viral load in SARS-CoV-2 progression and suggest that Ct values could be used to predict the spread of infection in the community.

 
Full-Text [PDF 507 kb]   (40 Downloads)    
Article Type: Original Research | Subject: Virology
Received: 2024/06/30 | Accepted: 2024/11/22 | Published: 2024/12/20

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