Severity of Omicron (B.1.1.529) and Delta (B.1.1.617.2) SARS-CoV-2 infection among hospitalised adults: a prospective cohort study

Catherine Hyams, Robert J Challen, Robin D Marlow, Jennifer Nguyen, Elizabeth Begier, Jo Southern, Jade N King, Anna Morley, Jane D Kinney, Maddie J Clout, Jennifer L Oliver, Gillian Ellsbury, Nick A Maskell, Luis Jodar, Bradford Gessner, John McLaughlin, Leon Danon, Adam H R Finn

Research output: Other contribution

Abstract

Limited data exist assessing severity of disease in adults hospitalised with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant infections, and to what extent patient-factors, including vaccination and pre-existing disease, affect variant-dependent disease severity. This prospective cohort study of all adults (≥18 years of age) hospitalised at acute care hospitals in Bristol, UK assessed disease severity using 3 different measures: FiO2 >28%, World Health Organization (WHO) outcome score >5, and hospital length of stay (LOS) >3 days following admission for Omicron or Delta variant infection. Independent of other variables, including vaccination, Omicron variant infection was associated with a statistically lower severity compared to Delta; risk reductions were 58%, 67%, and 16% for FiO2, WHO score, and LOS, respectively. Younger age and vaccination with two or three doses were also independently associated with lower COVID-19 severity. Despite lower severity relative to Delta, Omicron infection still resulted in substantial patient and public health burden following admission.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jul 2022

Structured keywords

  • Covid19

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