| Summary: | Abstract. Recalde-Zamacona B, Tomas-Vel azquez A,
Campo A, Satrustegui-Alzugaray B, Fern andez-
Alonso M, Inigo M, Rodr ~ ıguez-Mateos M, Di Frisco
M, Felgueroso C, Berto J, Mar ın-Oto M, Alcaide AB,
Zulueta JJ, Seijo L, Landecho MF (Clinica
Universidad de Navarra; Health Center of San
Juan, Pamplona, Spain). Chronic rhinosinusitis is
associated with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA
shedding in upper respiratory tract samples: A
case-control study. J Intern Med 2021; 289: 921–
925. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13237
Background. SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 causative
agent, has infected millions of people and killed
over 1.6 million worldwide. A small percentage
of cases persist with prolonged positive RT-PCR
on nasopharyngeal swabs. The aim of this study
was to determine risk factors for prolonged viral
shedding amongst patient’s basal clinical
conditions.
Methods. We have evaluated all 513 patients
attended in our hospital between 1 March and 1
July. We have selected all 18 patients with pro-
longed viral shedding and compared them with 36
sex-matched randomly selected controls. Demo-
graphic, treatment and clinical data were system-
atically collected. Results. Global median duration of viral clearance was
25.5 days (n = 54; IQR, 22–39.3 days), 48.5 days in
cases (IQR 38.7–54.9 days) and 23 days in controls
(IQR 20.2–25.7), respectively. There were not
observed differences in demographic, symptoms or
treatment data between groups.Chronic rhinosi-
nusitis and atopy were more common in patients
with prolonged viral shedding (67%) compared with
controls (11% and 25% respectively) (P < 0.001 and
P = 0.003). The use of inhaled corticosteroids was
also more frequent in case group (P = 0.007). Mul-
tivariate analysis indicated that CRS (odds ratio
[OR], 18.78; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 3.89–
90.59; P < 0.001) was independently associated
with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in URT
samples, after adjusting for initial PCR Ct values.
Conclusion. We found that chronic rhinosinusitis and
atopy might be associated with increased risk of
prolonged viral shedding. If confirmed in prospec-
tive trials, this finding might have clinical implica-
tions for quarantine duration due to increased risk
of pandemic spread.
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