RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC) have emerged as a significant global health concern due to their potential impact on patients' quality of life and healthcare resources. The present study aims to understand the burden and characteristics of PCC in Maharashtra, India, and compares its prevalence among cases infected with Delta and Omicron variants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study included 617 laboratory-confirmed Delta and Omicron variant cases. These cases were telephonically followed up to document persistent COVID-19 symptoms using a questionnaire based on the Post-COVID-19 Clinical Form from the Global COVID-19 Clinical Platform of the World Health Organization (WHO), and the results were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 617 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases, 82.97% and 17.03% were Omicron and Delta cases, respectively. The mean follow-up period for Delta and Omicron cases was 78.05 and 21.56 weeks, respectively. A total of 40 (6.48%) cases reported persistent symptoms at follow-up, with a higher prevalence among those infected with the Delta variant (12.38%) compared to the Omicron variant (5.27%). The most common long COVID symptoms reported were malaise (25%), dyspnea (20%), post-exertional fatigue (17.5%), joint pain (15%), and frequent episodes of cough and cold (15%). Additionally, 1.94% of participants developed a new medical condition following COVID-19 infection, most commonly hypertension (25%), lung fibrosis (16.67%), and asthma (8.33%). Factors such as more than five acute symptoms, a moderate to severe disease, the need for hospitalization, and hospitalization for more than five days were significantly associated with PCC. CONCLUSION: Long COVID results in extended disability and illness. The varying impacts of different COVID-19 variants highlight the complex nature of post-COVID-19 complications. Our findings highlight the need for strategic planning of healthcare resources to ensure optimal response and preparedness to manage the burden of PCC.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants BA.2.74, BA.2.75, and BA.2.76 have appeared recently in India and have already spread to over 40 countries. They have acquired additional mutations in their spike protein compared to BA.2, branching away on the SARS-CoV-2 phylogenetic tree. These added mutations have raised concerns about the impact on viral pathogenicity, transmissibility, and immune evasion properties of the new variants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 990 Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) positive SARS-CoV-2 samples, with a cycle threshold value (Ct) less than 25, were processed for SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing between June 3, 2022 to August 7, 2022. All corresponding demographic and clinical data were recorded and analyzed using Microsoft® Excel. RESULTS: Out of 990 samples sequenced, BA.2.75 (23.03%) was the predominant Omicron sublineage, followed by BA.2.38 (21.01%), BA.5 (9.70%), BA.2 (9.09%), BA.2.74 (8.89%) and BA.2.76 (5.56%). A total of 228 cases of BA.2.74, BA.2.75, and BA.2.76 were contacted by telephone, of which 215 (94.30%) were symptomatic with mild symptoms, and 13 (5.70%) had no symptoms. Fever (82.02%) was the most common symptom, followed by cough (49.12%), cold (35.97%), fatigue (27.19%), headache (21.05%), and myalgia (20.61%). Of the 228 cases, 195 (85.53%) cases recovered at home, and 33 (14.47%) required institutional quarantine. Recovery with conservative treatment was observed in 92.98% of cases, while 4.83% required additional oxygen therapy. Only three (1.32%) cases had poor outcomes resulting in death, and the remaining 225 (98.68%) survived. Among the 228 cases, 219 (96.05%) cases were vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine; of these, 72.60% had received both doses, 26.03% had also received the precautionary booster dose, while 1.37% were incompletely vaccinated with a single dose of vaccine. CONCLUSION: The current study indicates that the three BA.2 sublineages are causing mild disease in India. However, BA.2.75 has key mutations that are notable for accelerated growth and transmission and require close and effective monitoring.
