COVID-19 patient age and disease severity arevariables associated to a higher frequency ofairborne SARS-CoV-2 detection

Airborne SARS-CoV-2 is detectable only in a small percentage of samplings collected in COVID-19 patient rooms. Besides methodological and environmental factors, patient variables could affect SARS CoV-2 detection. The identification of such variables could help to understand the variability in the response toSARS-CoV-2 and to evaluate risk infection. To analyze the relation between COVID-19 patient variables and SARS-CoV-2 airborne detection. Airborne SARS-CoV-2 was assessed with a procedure able to detect one single genome copy [1,2]. Bioaerosols were collected in the presence of a COVID-19 patient in 72 rooms of the Son Espases Hospital. SARS-CoV-2 genome was quantified by ddPCR. Patient variables included gender, age, origin, presence of previous diseases, presence and severity of pneumonia, symptoms, number of days from symptoms onset and from positive diagnostic PCR until air sampling, viral load estimation, and treatments. SARS-CoV-2 genome was detected in 33 air samples. SARS-CoV-2 detection was positively associated with patient age (P=0,02). Time elapsed either from a positive diagnostic PCR and symptoms onset were not associated to virus detection. However, a higher percentage of patients with symptoms was observed in positive samplings. A higher percentage of positive samples was obtained in the semi-critical care unit(P=0,02). These results highlighted the heterogeneity of the response to SARS-CoV-2. Immunosenescence and COVID-19 severity could be considered to adapt preventive measures. These results could influence infection risk perception. [1]Truyols J et al. Indoor Air 2022; 32(2):e13002