Signals of Significantly Increased Vaccine Breakthrough, Decreased Hospitalization Rates, and Less Severe Disease in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Caused by the Omicron Variant of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Houston, Texas.
Am J Pathol
; 192(4): 642-652, 2022 04.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1777930
ABSTRACT
Genetic variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to dramatically alter the landscape of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The recently described variant of concern designated Omicron (B.1.1.529) has rapidly spread worldwide and is now responsible for the majority of COVID-19 cases in many countries. Because Omicron was recognized recently, many knowledge gaps exist about its epidemiology, clinical severity, and disease course. A genome sequencing study of SARS-CoV-2 in the Houston Methodist health care system identified 4468 symptomatic patients with infections caused by Omicron from late November 2021 through January 5, 2022. Omicron rapidly increased in only 3 weeks to cause 90% of all new COVID-19 cases, and at the end of the study period caused 98% of new cases. Compared with patients infected with either Alpha or Delta variants in our health care system, Omicron patients were significantly younger, had significantly increased vaccine breakthrough rates, and were significantly less likely to be hospitalized. Omicron patients required less intense respiratory support and had a shorter length of hospital stay, consistent with on average decreased disease severity. Two patients with Omicron stealth sublineage BA.2 also were identified. The data document the unusually rapid spread and increased occurrence of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant in metropolitan Houston, Texas, and address the lack of information about disease character among US patients.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Vaccines
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
/
Vaccines
/
Variants
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Pathol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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