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. 2022 Aug 24;75(1):e1128-e1136.
doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab721.

Clinical and Virological Features of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Variants of Concern: A Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), and B.1.617.2 (Delta)

Sean Wei Xiang Ong  1   2 , Calvin J Chiew  1   3 , Li Wei Ang  1 , Tze Minn Mak  1 , Lin Cui  1 , Matthias Paul H S Toh  1   4 , Yi Ding Lim  3 , Pei Hua Lee  1   2 , Tau Hong Lee  1   2   5   6 , Po Ying Chia  1   2   5 , Sebastian Maurer-Stroh  6   7   8   9 , Raymond T P Lin  1   6 , Yee Sin Leo  1   2   5   6 , Vernon J Lee  3   4 , David Chien Lye  1   2   5   6 , Barnaby Edward Young  1   2   5
Affiliations

Clinical and Virological Features of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Variants of Concern: A Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), and B.1.617.2 (Delta)

Sean Wei Xiang Ong et al. Clin Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: The impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) on disease severity is unclear. In this retrospective study, we compared the outcomes of patients infected with B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and B.1.617.2 with wild-type strains from early 2020.

Methods: National surveillance data from January to May 2021 were obtained and outcomes in relation to VOCs were explored. Detailed patient-level data from all patients with VOC infection admitted to our center between December 2020 and May 2021 were analyzed. Clinical outcomes were compared with a cohort of 846 patients admitted from January to April 2020.

Results: A total of 829 patients in Singapore in the study period were infected with these 3 VOCs. After adjusting for age and sex, B.1.617.2 was associated with higher odds of oxygen requirement, intensive care unit admission, or death (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.43-30.78). Of these patients, 157 were admitted to our center. After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, and vaccination, the aOR for pneumonia with B.1.617.2 was 1.88 (95% CI: .95-3.76) compared with wild-type. These differences were not seen with B.1.1.7 and B.1.351. Vaccination status was associated with decreased severity. B.1.617.2 was associated with significantly lower polymerase chain reaction cycle threshold (Ct) values and longer duration of Ct value ≤30 (median duration 18 days for B.1.617.2, 13 days for wild-type).

Conclusions: B.1.617.2 was associated with increased severity of illness, and with lower Ct values and longer viral shedding. These findings provide impetus for the rapid implementation of vaccination programs.

Keywords: B.1.617.2; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; severity; variants of concern.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
All reported coronavirus disease 2019 cases in Singapore, 1 January 2021 to 22 May 2021 (n = 2930). Of 829 infections with B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), or B.1.617.2 (Delta), 157 (19%) were admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases. * refers to other non-variants of concern and wild-type. ^ indicates those that were unable to be sequenced and not sequenced.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Scatter plot of serial Ct values and marginal effect of day of illness from generalized additive mixed models for the 3 variants of concern and wild-type infections. B.1.17, n = 47; B.1.351, n = 21; B.1.617.2, n = 58; wild-type, n = 59. Abbreviation: Ct, cycle threshold. Negative PCR result is denoted by Ct value of 45.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Kaplan-Meier curves of cumulative events of Ct value >30 stratified by variants of concern and wild-type. Abbreviation: Ct, cycle threshold.
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