Frontiers in Microbiology (Apr 2024)

Risk factors for progression to severe infection and prolonged viral clearance time in hospitalized elderly patients infected with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2: a retrospective study at Shanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University

  • Siqi Tang,
  • Siqi Tang,
  • Qiuhong Man,
  • Dongliang Zhu,
  • Xueying Yu,
  • Ruilin Chen,
  • Shuo Wang,
  • Yihan Lu,
  • Yihan Lu,
  • Qiqing Shi,
  • Chen Suo,
  • Chen Suo,
  • Lize Xiong,
  • Lize Xiong

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1361197
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

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IntroductionIn elderly patients infected with the Omicron variant, disease progression to severe infection can result in poor outcomes. This study aimed to identify risk and protective factors associated with disease progression to severe infection and viral clearance time in elderly Omicron-infected patients.MethodsShanghai Fourth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, was officially designated to provide treatment to patients with COVID-19. This study was conducted on confirmed Omicron cases admitted to the hospital between 10 April 2022 and 21 June 2022. In total, 1,568 patients aged 65 years or older were included. We conducted a retrospective, observational study using logistic regression to analyze risk and protective factors for the development of severe disease and Cox proportional hazards regression models to analyze factors influencing viral clearance time.ResultsAged over 80 years, having 2 or more comorbidities, combined cerebrovascular disease, chronic neurological disease, and mental disorders were associated with the development of severe disease, and full vaccination was a protective factor. Furthermore, aged over 80 years, combined chronic respiratory disease, chronic renal disease, cerebrovascular disease, mental disorders, and high viral load were associated with prolonged viral clearance time, and full vaccination was a protective factor.DiscussionThis study analyzed risk factors for progression to severe infection and prolonged viral clearance time in hospitalized elderly Omicron-infected patients. Aged patients with comorbidities had a higher risk of developing severe infection and had longer viral clearance, while vaccination protected them against the Omicron infection.

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