A tale of two waves: characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 admissions during the Omicron-driven fourth wave in Cape Town, South Africa, and implications for the future.
IJID Reg
; 6: 42-47, 2023 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36448029
ABSTRACT
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of admissions during the fourth wave of COVID-19 in order to inform future public health policies.Methods:
This was a retrospective descriptive study of an early cohort of all adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to a tertiary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, at the start of the country's fourth wave. This was compared with an early cohort from the first wave at the same institution.Results:
In total, 121 SARS-CoV-2-positive admissions from the fourth wave were included. Thirty-one (25.6%) patients had COVID-19 pneumonia, while 90 (74.4%) had incidental SARS-CoV-2 infection. (In the first wave all 116 patients had COVID-19 pneumonia.) Thirty-two (26.4%) patients self-reported complete or partial COVID-19 vaccination, of whom 12 (37.5%) were admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia. Compared with the first wave, there were fewer intensive- or high-care admissions (18/121 [14.9%] vs 42/116 [36.2%]; p < 0.001) and mortality was lower (12/121 [9.9%] vs 31/116 [26.7%]; p = 0.001).Conclusion:
Admissions to the COVID-19 wards during the fourth wave primarily included patients with incidental SARS-CoV-2 infection. There was a reduction in the need for critical care and in-hospital mortality. This changing epidemiology of COVID-19 admissions may be attributed to a combination of natural and/or vaccination-acquired immunity.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
IJID Reg
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Sudáfrica