Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

October 28, 2020

Shorter Incubation Period Is Associated with Severe Disease Progression in Patients with COVID-19

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Shorter time between exposure and the development of symptoms was associated with more frequent detection of COVID-19 associated pneumonia. A study of 330 patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in January and February reported that patients with a shorter incubation period (defined as <3 days between the time of exposure and the onset of symptoms) were more likely to have aggravation of lung involvement based on CT scan, compared to patients with a longer incubation period (>10 days) (21% vs. 8%, p= 0.042). Exposure was defined using medical history and “travel track” data (derived from smartphones, mobile payment, closed-circuit television, high-speed rail or airplane, and other sources).

Lai et al. (Oct 27, 2020). Shorter Incubation Period Is Associated with Severe Disease Progression in Patients with COVID-19. Virulence. https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2020.1836894