2.3.1 Symptoms 

Symptoms represent physical or mental features which are regarded as an indication of a condition or disease, particularly those features that are apparent to the patient. This SNOMED CT subset of COVID-19 symptoms has been developed based on a review of relevant Pubmed literature. ¹, research performed by Kings College London ² , and a review of COVID-19 data collection forms (e.g. ³). 

2.3.2 Severity 

Severity represents the quality of the condition - for example,  24484000 | Severe (severity modifier) (qualifier value)| . Severity may be recorded for each symptom, or as a general statement of their disease state. 

2.3.3 Clinical Measurements 

Clinical measurements involve the performance of physiological tests to diagnose and refine therapeutic management of an already established disease. The following clinical measurements can be used in the assessment of a COVID-19 patient.

2.3.4 Clinical Findings 

Clinical findings are the result of measuring, questioning, evaluating, or otherwise observing a patient or a specimen from a patient in healthcare. The following clinical findings are positive or negative indications that signs are present in a COVID-19 patient.

Please refer to 2.3.1 Extension Concepts - Clinical Assessment for a list of known extension concepts.

2.3.5 Diagnosis 

A diagnosis is the identification of the nature of the illness, based on an examination of the symptoms, observations, measurements, test results and other investigation results. The following subset includes a range of diagnoses directly related to COVID-19.

Please refer to 2.3.1 Extension Concepts - Clinical Assessment for a list of known extension concepts.

2.3.6 Clinical History 

The clinical history concepts are used to record information gained by a physician by asking specific questions, either of the patient or of other people who know the person and can give suitable information, with the aim of obtaining information useful in formulating a diagnosis and providing medical care to the patient.

2.3.7 Secondary Conditions and Complications 

A secondary condition is any health condition that is "dependent or consequent on another disease or condition" ⁴. A complication is "a disorder caused by another disorder, procedure or event, which is not a natural progression or expected outcome of its cause ⁵.

The following subset includes SNOMED CT clinical findings that may be recorded as either secondary conditions or complications. Clinical judgement is required to determine whether these conditions are expected outcomes or unexpected complications of COVID-19.

Please refer to 2.3.1 Extension Concepts - Clinical Assessment for a list of known extension concepts.

2.3.8 Known Risk Factors 

Know risk factors are used to record the known patient conditions which may increase the risk of the patient being especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. The following clinical findings are potential risk factors of COVID-19 ^3 6.

2.3.9 Comorbidities 

Comorbidities are additional medical conditions of concern. The following SNOMED CT subset can be used to record comorbidities.

2.3.10 Exposure Event 

An exposure event is when an individual comes into close contact with an infected person's contaminated droplets, carried in the air or on contaminated hands, surfaces or other objects. The subset below includes SNOMED CT events for recording exposure to COVID-19.

Please refer to 2.3.1 Extension Concepts - Clinical Assessment for a list of known extension concepts.

2.3.11 Covid-19 and Viral Co-Infections 

The following organism should be used when recording the organism causing COVID-19 infections.

The following organisms can be used to record the cause of related viral co-infections.

Footnotes