The aim of our study was to elucidate if SARS-CoV-2 viral load on admission, measured by real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) value on nasopharyngeal samples, was a marker of disease severity. All hospitalized adult patients with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection by rRT-PCR performed on a nasopharingeal sample from March 1 to March 18 in our institution were included. The study population was divided according to the Ct value obtained upon admission in patients with high viral load (Ct < 25), intermediate viral load (Ct: 25–30) and low viral load (Ct > 30). Demographic, clinical and laboratory variables of the different groups were analyzed to assess the influence of viral load on the development of respiratory failure during admission. Overall, 455 sequential patients were included. The median Ct value was 28 (IQR: 24–32). One hundred and thirty patients (28.6%) had a high viral load, 175 (38.5%) an intermediate viral load and 150 (33%) a low viral load. Advanced age, male sex, presence of cardiovascular disease and laboratory markers such as lactate dehydrogenase, lymphocyte count and C-reactive protein, as well as a high viral load on admission, were predictive of respiratory failure. A Ct value < 25 was associated with a higher risk of respiratory failure during admission (OR: 2.99, 95%IC: 1.57–5.69). SARS-CoV-2 viral load, measured through the Ct value on admission, is a valuable tool to predict the development of respiratory failure in COVID-19 inpatients.

我们研究的目的是阐明通过实时逆转录酶-聚合酶链反应（rRT-PCR）循环阈值（Ct）评估鼻咽样品的SARS-CoV-2病毒载量是否是疾病的标志物严重性。纳入所有从3月1日至3月18日在我院进行的鼻咽样本经rRT-PCR诊断为SARS-CoV-2感染的住院成人患者。根据高病毒载量（Ct <25），中等病毒载量（Ct：25-30）和低病毒载量（Ct> 30）患者入院时获得的Ct值对研究人群进行划分。分析了不同人群的人口统计学，临床和实验室变量，以评估病毒载量对入院期间呼吸衰竭发展的影响。总共包括455名顺序患者。Ct中位数为28（IQR：24–32）。一百三十名患者（28.6％）病毒载量高，中病毒载量175（38.5％），低病毒载量150（33％）。高龄，男性，心血管疾病的存在以及乳酸脱氢酶，淋巴细胞计数和C反应蛋白等实验室指标以及入院时病毒载量高，均预示了呼吸衰竭。Ct值<25与入院期间呼吸衰竭的较高风险相关（OR：2.99，95％IC：1.57–5.69）。通过入院时的Ct值测量的SARS-CoV-2病毒载量是预测COVID-19住院患者呼吸衰竭发生情况的重要工具。5％）是中等病毒载量，而150（33％）是低病毒载量。高龄，男性，心血管疾病的存在以及乳酸脱氢酶，淋巴细胞计数和C反应蛋白等实验室指标以及入院时病毒载量高，均预示了呼吸衰竭。Ct值<25与入院期间呼吸衰竭的较高风险相关（OR：2.99，95％IC：1.57–5.69）。通过入院时的Ct值测量的SARS-CoV-2病毒载量是预测COVID-19住院患者呼吸衰竭发生情况的重要工具。5％）是中等病毒载量，而150（33％）是低病毒载量。高龄，男性，心血管疾病的存在以及乳酸脱氢酶，淋巴细胞计数和C反应蛋白等实验室指标以及入院时病毒载量高均预示了呼吸衰竭。Ct值<25与入院期间呼吸衰竭的较高风险相关（OR：2.99，95％IC：1.57–5.69）。通过入院时的Ct值测量的SARS-CoV-2病毒载量是预测COVID-19住院患者呼吸衰竭发生情况的重要工具。25岁与入院期间呼吸衰竭的较高风险相关（OR：2.99，95％IC：1.57-5.69）。通过入院时的Ct值测量的SARS-CoV-2病毒载量是预测COVID-19住院患者呼吸衰竭发生情况的重要工具。25岁与入院期间呼吸衰竭的较高风险相关（OR：2.99，95％IC：1.57-5.69）。通过入院时的Ct值测量的SARS-CoV-2病毒载量是预测COVID-19住院患者呼吸衰竭发生情况的重要工具。