Do you have a fever? A pounding headache? Do you feel pain or pressure in your chest? What is your current body temperature? And can you take a deep breath and hold your breath for 10 seconds without coughing?
Questions like these will map exactly what symptoms people with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, experience. But even if you feel fine and symptom-free, information about the state of your health may be just as relevant for researchers. Knowledge on infected persons, possibly infected-persons and healthy individuals can all contribute to an overall picture of the spread of coronavirus in Denmark.
Aalborg University has just launched a beta version of C19 SymMaps, a digital mapping platform. The platform is available on c19.aau.dk, where sick as well as healthy Danes can register their symptoms and general well-being several times a day.
SOFTWARE PROVIDES DETAILED OVERVIEW OF SYMPTOMS
- We need more detailed knowledge on the symptoms of COVID-19. Since only people with very severe symptoms are hospitalised, and thus monitored by the healthcare system, there is a large group of people with minor or perhaps no symptoms that we know very little about. But this group is a source of valuable knowledge on the symptoms of the disease. With C19 SymMaps, we can get a detailed overview of the extent of the development of infection and changes in symptoms over time. So we hope that as many Danes as possible will want to provide information about the state of their health, regardless of whether they have few or no symptoms at all, explains Shellie Boudreau, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science and Technology at Aalborg University.
C19 SymMaps can be accessed by anyone with a device like a smartphone or tablet, and everyone – whether you have symptoms or not – can contribute knowledge. The data collected in the mapping can complement the knowledge that health authorities are also collecting on COVID-19. The plan is to make the data available to the National Institute of Public Health.
- In the longer term, the findings can help provide an overview of how COVID-19 affects different groups, for example, in terms of age, gender and residence. In addition, the detailed knowledge of symptoms may be used in developing vaccines or in forecasts of other disease epidemics, says Shellie Boudreau, Associate Professor.
The software uses a simple drawing program that allows individuals to mark where they have pain or are experiencing discomfort; they also register their temperature and other symptoms. You can register your health condition several times a day, thus contributing to a detailed overview of COVID-19 symptoms.
- We always try to get our research out of our labs to make a positive difference. This project is a very good example of research that provides knowledge to the world and can potentially contribute new knowledge about the coronavirus and COVID-19, says Kim Dremstrup, Head of Department in the Department of Health Science and Technology.
ABOUT C19 SYMMAPS
C19 SymMaps is a digital mapping platform that will create an overview of the spread of the coronavirus in Denmark. C19 SymMaps uses the same software as the Navigate Pain app that allows people with chronic pain and physical discomfort to precisely map their pain and discomfort via a simple drawing program. Navigate Pain was developed by the AAU startup company Aglance Solutions ApS.
Any person can record their health condition several times a day, whether they have current or previous symptoms, or if they have no symptoms at all.
Health information in C19 SymMaps is collected through REDCap, a secure research system for collecting health data.
C19 SymMaps was created in a partnership of researchers in the Department of Health Science and Technology at Aalborg University:
- Shellie Boudreau, Associate Professor, is project manager
- Henrik Bøggild, Associate Professor, has expertise in epidemiology
- Meg Duroux, Associate Professor, has expertise in molecular biology
- Sinead Holden, Senior researcher, has expertise in musculoskeletal health
CONTACT
Shellie Boudreau, Associate Professor, Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP)
Tel: 9940 9829
Email: sboudreau@hst.aau.dk
Kim Dremstrup, Head of Department, Department of Health Science and Technology
Tel: 9940 8811 / 2465 5246
Email: kdn@hst.aau.dk
Trine Kristensen, Journalist, AAU Communication
Tel: 9940 3921 / 6196 7191
Email: tjek@adm.aau.dk