Comparison of clinical outcomes between COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated patients admitted to a Respiratory Intensive Care Unit

ABSTRACT

Background: While vaccination against COVID-19 shows high efficacy in preventing Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, its impact on the severity of patients admitted to an ICU is still unclear. Aims and Objectives: To compare clinical characteristics and outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID-19 patients admitted to a Respiratory ICU (RICU). Method(s) A prospective observational cohort study including adult patients admitted to the SARS-CoV-2 RICU of the University Hospital of Padova for hypoxemic Acute Respiratory Failure (hARF) between October 1st, and December 31st, 2021. Result(s) Among 42 vaccinated patients, 40 (95.2%) had completed vaccination cycle;no one had received a buster dose. Vaccinated patients were older than their counterparts. Conclusion(s) COVID-19 vaccination seems not to significantly reduce the clinical severity of patients admitted to a RICU for hARF.