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Observational Study
. 2022 Dec;134(23-24):850-855.
doi: 10.1007/s00508-022-02084-1. Epub 2022 Sep 7.

Comparison of clinical characteristics among patients infected with alpha vs. delta SARS-CoV-2 variants

Benedikt Rumpf  1 , Benno Lickefett  1 , Clemens Baumgartner  1 , Victoria Kauer  1 , Mario Karolyi  2 , Erich Pawelka  2 , Tamara Seitz  2 , Marianna Traugott  2 , Petr Triska  3 , Andreas Bergthaler  3 , Hermann Laferl  2 , Christoph Wenisch  2 , Alexander Zoufaly  4   5
Affiliations
Observational Study

Comparison of clinical characteristics among patients infected with alpha vs. delta SARS-CoV-2 variants

Benedikt Rumpf et al. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has undergone different molecular changes, sprouting genetic variants of the original wildtype. Clinical comparisons between patients infected with alpha versus delta are scarce.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, adult patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to confirmed SARS-CoV‑2 alpha or delta infection were included. Patient characteristics, virologic and laboratory parameters, as well as the clinical course were compared in patients infected with alpha vs. delta variants.

Results: A total of 106 patients infected with alpha and 215 patients infected with delta were included. Patients infected with the delta variant were admitted to hospital earlier after symptom onset (6 vs. 7 days, p < 0.001). Blood levels of C‑reactive protein (43.3 vs. 62.9 mg/l, p = 0.02) and neutrophil count (3.81 vs. 4.53 G/l, p = 0.06) were lower in delta patients. Furthermore, at hospital admission cycle threshold (CT) values were significantly lower in patients infected with the delta variant (22.3 vs. 24.9, p < 0.001). Patients infected with the delta variant needed supplemental oxygen less often during disease course (50% vs. 64%, p = 0.02). Furthermore, there was a statistically non-significant trend towards a lower ICU admission rate among delta patients (16% vs. 24%, p = 0.08) CONCLUSION: Patients diagnosed with the delta variant were admitted to the hospital earlier, had a less severe course of disease and a higher viral replication on admission. This may provide a window of opportunity for antivirals in the hospital setting.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hospitalization; Pandemic; Pneumonia; Viral load.

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Conflict of interest statement

B. Rumpf, B. Lickefett, C. Baumgartner, V. Kauer, M. Karolyi, E. Pawelka, T. Seitz, M. Traugott, P. Triska, A. Bergthaler, H. Laferl, C. Wenisch and A. Zoufaly declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Incidence of SARS-CoV‑2 variants in hospitalized patients
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Days from symptom onset until hospitalization stratified by variant
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
CT values at time of admission
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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