Table 2.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients with positive and negative rectal swabs, respectively.
| Demographics | Positive rectal swab | Negative rectal swab | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| N = 22 (53.7%) | N = 19 (46.3%) | ||
| Age, years, median (CI) | 72.5 (65.4–75.5) | 68 (62.1–71.5) | 0.10 |
| Gender, N (%) | |||
| Male | 15 (68.2) | 12 (63.2) | 0.99 |
| Female | 7 (31.8) | 7 (36.8) | 0.99 |
| BMI, mean (CI) | 28.1 (25.9–30.3) | 29.6 (27.3–31.9) | 0.36 |
| Living in a nursing home, N (%) | 2 (9.1) | 0 (0.0) | 0.53 |
| Smoking, N (%) | |||
| Yes | 0 (0.0) | 3 (15.8) | 0.18 |
| No | 8 (36.4) | 8 (42.1) | 0.96 |
| Former | 14 (63.6) | 8 (42.1) | 0.29 |
| Alcohol consumption, N (%) | |||
| More units/week than recommendeda | 2 (9.1) | 2 (10.5) | 1.00 |
| Occupation, N (%) | |||
| Healthcare | 2 (9.1) | 2 (10.5) | 1.00 |
| Educational sector | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | NA |
| Eldercare | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | NA |
| Children and adolescents | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | NA |
| Retired | 16 (72.7) | 12 (63.2) | 0.75 |
| Other | 4 (18.2) | 5 (26.3) | 0.80 |
| Clinical characteristics | Positive rectal swab | Negative rectal swab | P -value |
| N = 22 (53.7%) | N = 19 (46.3%) | ||
| Intestinal disease, N (%) | 5 (22.7) | 1 (5.3) | 0.26 |
| Risk factors, N (%) | |||
| Cardiovascular disease | 15 (68.2) | 12 (63.2) | 0.99 |
| Hypertension | 13 (59.1) | 11 (57.9) | 1.00 |
| Pulmonary disease | 9 (40.9) | 6 (31.6) | 0.77 |
| Asthma | 4 (18.2) | 1 (5.3) | 0.43 |
| COPD | 5 (22.7) | 3 (15.8) | 0.87 |
| Severe overweight (BMI > 30) | 8 (36.4) | 10 (52.6) | 0.46 |
| Cancer | 5 (22.7) | 4 (21.1) | 1.00 |
| Type 1 or 2 diabetes | 3 (13.6) | 4 (21.1) | 0.83 |
| Symptoms, N (%) | |||
| Cough | 18 (81.8) | 17 (89.5) | 0.80 |
| Dyspnea | 16 (72.7) | 14 (73.7) | 1.00 |
| Fever | 12 (54.5) | 12 (63.2) | 0.81 |
| Gastrointestinal symptoms | 13 (59.1) | 8 (42.1) | 0.44 |
| Nausea | 7 (31.8) | 5 (26.3) | 0.97 |
| Vomiting | 4 (18.2) | 1 (5.3) | 0.43 |
| Stomach ache | 6 (27.3) | 5 (26.3) | 1.00 |
| Diarrhea | 11 (50.0) | 6 (31.6) | 0.38 |
| Sore throat | 11 (50.0) | 5 (26.3) | 0.22 |
| Affected taste or smell | 10 (45.5) | 6 (31.6) | 0.56 |
| Headache | 7 (31.8) | 6 (31.6) | 1.00 |
| No symptoms | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | NA |
| Vaccination, N (%)b | |||
| Vaccinated with first dose | 1 (6.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1.00 |
| Fully vaccinated | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | NA |
Alcohol consumption was assessed according to the recommendations made by the Danish Health Authority about the low-risk limit for women (7 units per week) and men (14 units per week). Intestinal disease includes Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, steatosis, bowel cancer, gastric bypass, and intestinal resection. Cardiovascular disease includes hypertension, transient cerebral ischemia, ischemic heart disease, non-STEMI coronary thrombosis, atrial fibrillation, hypercholesterolemia, arterial sclerosis, femoral bypass surgery, cardiac insufficiency, cerebral apoplexy, normal pressure hydrocephalus, and 3rd degree AV block with subsequent pacemaker implantation. Pulmonary disease includes asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleep apnea, and partial lung resection. Vaccination status was self-reported.
Patients were excluded from the statistical analysis because of undetectable or missing values. For vaccination status statistical analyses were based on 15 rectal positive patients and 8 rectal negative patients. CI, Confidence interval; BMI, Body Mass Index; COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; NA, Not available.