Factors Associated with Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients in Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia

• Published in: International journal of public health research Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 1418 - 1424
• Main Authors: Kuay, Lim Kuang, Mohd Hanafiah, Ainul Nadziha, Cheng, Lee Soo, Ying, Chan Ying, Azlan Kassim, Mohd Shaiful, Lin, Chong Zhuo, Abu Sapian, Roslinda, Musa, Nurul Syarbani Eliana, Sanaudi, Ridwan, Yusof, Mohamed Paid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2021
• ISSN: 2232-0245; 2232-0245
• DOI: 10.17576/ijphr.1102.2021.05

Introduction: The rapid spread of the COVID-19 worldwide has led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. This study aims to determine the factors associated with asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in Petaling District, Selangor, Malaysia. Methods: Data on COVID-19 patients were extracted from the database of confirmed cases in Petaling District Health Office, Selangor, Malaysia from 3rd February 2020 to 30th April 2020. An asymptomatic laboratory-confirmed case is a person infected with COVID-19 who does not develop any symptoms. The study included socio-demographic variables, the detailed information on clinical manifestations and co-morbidity of the patients. Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the factors associated with asymptomatic patients. Results: The overall COVID-19 patients in Petaling District were 434. Approximately 70% (N = 292) of the patients were symptomatic while 32.7% (N = 142) were asymptomatic. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that factors significantly associated with asymptomatic patients were age below 40 years old (aOR: 1.79, 95% CI 1.11, 2.86), non-Malaysians (aOR: 3.22, 95% CI 1.44, 7.19) and local cases (aOR: 2.51, 95% CI 1.42, 4.42). Gender, ethnicity, co-morbidity and township were not significantly associated with asymptomatic patients. Conclusion: Approximately one-third of COVID-19 patients were asymptomatic and the risk factors identified were younger age, non-Malaysians and local cases. Rigorous epidemiological investigation and laboratory examinations are helpful in identifying COVID-19 cases among these group of people who are asymptomatic. Keywords: COVID-19 - asymptomatic - pandemic - Malaysia