MERS transmission and risk factors: a systematic review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Since Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) infection was first reported in 2012, many studies have analysed its transmissibility and severity. However, the methodology and results of these studies have varied, and there has been no systematic review of MERS. This study reviews the characteristics and associated risk factors of MERS. METHOD: We searched international (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane) and Korean databases (DBpia, KISS) for English- or Korean-language articles using the terms "MERS" and "Middle East respiratory syndrome". Only human studies with > 20 participants were analysed to exclude studies with low representation. Epidemiologic studies with information on transmissibility and severity of MERS as well as studies containing MERS risk factors were included. RESULT: value was 2.5-8.09 in the early stage and decreased to < 1 in the later stage. The incubation period was 4.5-5.2 days in Saudi Arabia and 6-7.8 days in South Korea. Duration from onset was 4-10 days to confirmation, 2.9-5.3 days to hospitalization, 11-17 days to death, and 14-20 days to discharge. Older age and concomitant disease were the most common factors related to MERS infection, severity, and mortality. CONCLUSION: The transmissibility and severity of MERS differed by outbreak region and patient characteristics. Further studies assessing the risk of MERS should consider these factors.

Cited by papers we hold 9

• Results of the Adult COVID-19 Lifestyle Matching Study · 2022
  Not checked
• Review of potential risk groups for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) · 2021
  Not checked
• Serial interval and incubation period of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis · 2021
  No notice
• Exploratory Analysis of Demographic Factors and the Temporal Evolution of COVID-19 in India · 2020
  Not checked
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Transmission · 2020
  No notice
• The effect of smoking on COVID‐19 severity: A systematic review and meta‐analysis · 2020
  No notice
• COVID-19 and smoking: A systematic review of the evidence · 2020
  No notice
• Factors affecting mental health of health care workers during coronavirus disease outbreaks (SARS, MERS & COVID-19): A rapid systematic review · 2020
  No notice
• The double burden of diabetes and global infection in low and middle-income countries · 2018
  No notice

Reads

A person counts once a day per paper. We keep no cookie and no address: a reader is a hash that changes every day. Any month under five reads shows no number.