Background: In the context of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, which occurred in correspondence with the outbreak of the Omicron variant, it became fundamental to assess differences in the risk of severe disease between the Omicron variant and the earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants that were still in circulation despite Omicron becoming prevalent. Methods: We collected data on 2,267 genotyped PCR-positive swab tests and assessed whether the presence of symptoms, risk of hospitalization, and recovery times were significantly different between Omicron and the earlier variants. Multivariable models adjusted for sex, age class, citizenship, comorbidities, and symptomatology allowed assessing the difference in outcomes between Omicron and the earlier variants according to vaccination status and timing of administration. Results: Compared to the earlier variants in the same period, Omicron was less symptomatic, resulted in fewer hospital admissions for those who were unvaccinated and for those who were already immunized after the booster dose, and was associated with quicker recovery, yet not in subjects with three vaccination doses. Conclusion: Despite being milder, Omicron's higher transmissibility and vaccine resistance should not lead to underrating its damage potential, especially with regard to hospital and health service saturation.

Consolazio, D., Murtas, R., Tunesi, S., Lamberti, A., Senatore, S., Faccini, M., et al. (2022). A Comparison Between Omicron and Earlier COVID-19 Variants' Disease Severity in the Milan Area, Italy. FRONTIERS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY, 2 [10.3389/fepid.2022.891162].

A Comparison Between Omicron and Earlier COVID-19 Variants' Disease Severity in the Milan Area, Italy

Consolazio, David
Primo
;
2022

Abstract

Background: In the context of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, which occurred in correspondence with the outbreak of the Omicron variant, it became fundamental to assess differences in the risk of severe disease between the Omicron variant and the earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants that were still in circulation despite Omicron becoming prevalent. Methods: We collected data on 2,267 genotyped PCR-positive swab tests and assessed whether the presence of symptoms, risk of hospitalization, and recovery times were significantly different between Omicron and the earlier variants. Multivariable models adjusted for sex, age class, citizenship, comorbidities, and symptomatology allowed assessing the difference in outcomes between Omicron and the earlier variants according to vaccination status and timing of administration. Results: Compared to the earlier variants in the same period, Omicron was less symptomatic, resulted in fewer hospital admissions for those who were unvaccinated and for those who were already immunized after the booster dose, and was associated with quicker recovery, yet not in subjects with three vaccination doses. Conclusion: Despite being milder, Omicron's higher transmissibility and vaccine resistance should not lead to underrating its damage potential, especially with regard to hospital and health service saturation.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Omicron, variants, vaccination, symptoms, hospitalization, negativization;
English
2022
2
891162
open
Consolazio, D., Murtas, R., Tunesi, S., Lamberti, A., Senatore, S., Faccini, M., et al. (2022). A Comparison Between Omicron and Earlier COVID-19 Variants' Disease Severity in the Milan Area, Italy. FRONTIERS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY, 2 [10.3389/fepid.2022.891162].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
2022 - Consolazio et al, A comparison between Omicron and earlier COVID-19 Variants, Frontiers Epidemiology.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia di allegato: Publisher’s Version (Version of Record, VoR)
Dimensione 582.2 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
582.2 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/385842
Citazioni
  • Scopus 10
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
Social impact