Acute and Postacute COVID-19 Outcomes Among Immunologically Naive Adults During Delta vs Omicron Waves
Authors: Doll Margaret K. , Waghmare Alpana , Heit Antje , Levenson Shakoor Brianna , Kimball Louise E. , Ozbek Nina , Blazevic Rachel L. , Mose Larry , Boonyaratanakornkit Jim , Stevens-Ayers Terry L. , Cornell Kevin , Sheppard Benjamin D. , Hampson Emma , Sharmin Faria , Goodwin Benjamin , Dan Jennifer M. , Archie Tom , O’Connor Terry , Heckerman David , Schmitz Frank , Boeckh Michael , Crotty Shane 
Published: February 2023

Importance

The US arrival of the Omicron variant led to a rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections. While numerous studies report characteristics of Omicron infections among vaccinated individuals or persons with previous infection, comprehensive data describing infections among adults who are immunologically naive are lacking.

Objectives

To examine COVID-19 acute and postacute clinical outcomes among a well-characterized cohort of unvaccinated and previously uninfected adults who contracted SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron (BA.1/BA.2) surge, and to compare outcomes with infections that occurred during the Delta wave.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective multisite cohort study included community-dwelling adults undergoing high-resolution symptom and virologic monitoring in 8 US states between June 2021 and September 2022. Unvaccinated adults aged 30 to less than 65 years without an immunological history of SARS-CoV-2 who were at high risk of infection were recruited. Participants were followed for up to 48 weeks, submitting regular COVID-19 symptom surveys and nasal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Data were analyzed from May to October 2022.

Exposures

Omicron (BA.1/BA.2 lineages) vs Delta SARS-CoV-2 infection, defined as a positive PCR test result that occurred during a period when the variant represented at least 50% of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants in the participant’s geographic region.

Main Outcomes and Measure(s)

The main outcomes examined were the prevalence and severity of acute (≤28 days after onset) and postacute (≥5 weeks after onset) symptoms.

Results

Among 274 participants who were immunologically naive (mean [SD] age, 49 [9.7] years; 186 [68%] female; 19 [7%] Hispanic participants; 242 [88%] White participants), 166 (61%) contracted SARS-CoV-2. Of these, 137 infections (83%) occurred during the Omicron-predominant period and 29 infections (17%) occurred during the Delta-predominant period. Asymptomatic infections occurred among 7% (95% CI, 3%-12%) of Omicron-wave infections and 0% (95% CI, 0%-12%) of Delta-wave infections. Health care use among individuals with Omicron-wave infections was 79% (95% CI, 43%-92%) lower relative to individuals with Delta-wave infections (P = .001). Compared with individuals infected during the Delta wave, individuals infected during the Omicron wave also experienced a 56% (95% CI, 26%-74%, P = .004) relative reduction in the risk of postacute symptoms and a 79% (95% CI, 54%-91%, P &amp;lt; .001) relative reduction in the rate of postacute symptoms.

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings suggest that among adults who were previously immunologically naive, few Omicron-wave (BA.1/BA.2) and Delta-wave infections were asymptomatic. Compared with individuals with Delta-wave infections, individuals with Omicron-wave infections were less likely to seek health care and experience postacute symptoms.