Featured Review: Can symptoms and medical examination accurately diagnose COVID-19 disease?

ConclusionsAll studies were conducted in hospital outpatient settings, so the results are not representative of primary care settings. The results do not apply to children or older adults specifically, and do not clearly differentiate between milder COVID-19 disease and COVID-19 pneumonia.The results suggest that a single symptom or sign included in this review cannot accurately diagnose COVID-19. Doctors base diagnosis on multiple symptoms and signs, but the studies did not reflect this aspect of clinical practice.Further research is needed to investigate combinations of symptoms and signs; symptoms that are likely to be more specific, such as loss of sense of smell; and testing unselected populations, in primary care settings and in children and older adults.Read the full systematic review Visit the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group website What are diagnostic test accuracy reviews?What is the difference between a Cochrane systematic review of interventions and a Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy review?Read all the Cochrane resources and news on COVID-19Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Source: Cochrane News and Events - Category: Information Technology Authors: Source Type: news