430. Clinical Features and Outcomes of COVID-19 Hospitalized Adults by Variant
Authors: Perez Maria A , Tippett Ashley , Carmola Ludy R , Hussaini Laila , Salazar Luis W , Reese Olivia , Ciric Caroline R , Choi Chris , Taylor Elizabeth G , Li Wensheng , Hsiao Hui-Mien , Stephens Kathy , Gibson Theda , Puzniak Laura A , Hubler Robin , Wiemken Timothy L , Valluri Srinivas , Lopman Benjamin , Kamidani Satoshi , Anderson Evan J , Rostad Christina A , Wagonner Jesse J , Piantadosi Anne 
Published: November 2023

Background

SARS-CoV-2 has changed and mutated over time. It is important to evaluate changes in clinical presentation and outcomes based on the emerging variants. In this study, we aimed to compare differences in symptoms and outcomes among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 by variant.

Methods

From May 2021 to August 2022, we enrolled adults ≥ 18 years of age hospitalized with acute respiratory infection (ARI) at two Emory University hospitals. Demographic and clinical information were obtained from participant interviews and medical chart abstractions. Enrolled patients provided nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs and standard-of-care specimens. Samples which tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by molecular testing were subjected to SARS-CoV-2 targeted spike SNP PCR and viral genome sequencing to determine a variant. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS version 9.4. Bivariable analyses were conducted to compare characteristics and identify independent characteristics associated with each variant.

Results

Of 1677 ARI enrolled participants, 850 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, of whom 592 had a variant identified by either SNP PCR or full genome sequencing. The distribution of variants among these cases were as follows: 39 Alpha (6.6%), 2 Beta (0.3%), 307 Delta (51.9%), 9 Gamma (1.5%), 5 Mu (0.8%), and 230 Omicron (38.9%). When analysis was limited to participants with Alpha, Delta, or Omicron, those with Omicron were significantly older, white, female, and had underlying comorbidities. Compared to participants with Alpha and Delta, those with Omicron more often had sore throat and abdominal pain, but less often had fever, diarrhea, anosmia, ageusia, or shortness of breath. Also, those with Omicron were more often partially or fully vaccinated, with the majority of Omicron infections occurring after vaccination (Table 1). Most clinical outcomes were better among those with Omicron infections, while participants with Delta had the highest proportion of radiographic pneumonia, mechanical ventilation, and death (Table 1).

Conclusion

SARS-CoV-2 variants were associated with distinct clinical characteristics and outcomes, and the Delta variant was associated with the highest frequency of pneumonia, mechanical ventilation, and death.

Disclosures

Laura A. Puzniak, PhD. MPH, Pfizer, Inc.: Employee|Pfizer, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds Robin Hubler, MS, Pfizer, Inc.: Employee|Pfizer, Inc.: Stocks/Bonds Timothy L. Wiemken, PhD, Pfizer Inc: Employee|Pfizer Inc: Stocks/Bonds Srinivas Valluri, PhD, Pfizer Inc: Pfizer Employee and hold Pfizer stocks/options|Pfizer Inc: Ownership Interest|Pfizer Inc: Stocks/Bonds Benjamin Lopman, PhD, Epidemiological Research and Methods, LLC: Advisor/Consultant|Hillevax, Inc: Advisor/Consultant Satoshi Kamidani, MD, CDC: Grant/Research Support|Emergent BioSolutions: Grant/Research Support|NIH: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer Inc: Grant/Research Support Evan J. Anderson, MD, GSK: Advisor/Consultant|GSK: Grant/Research Support|Janssen: Advisor/Consultant|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|Kentucky Bioprocessing, Inc.: Safety Monitoring Board|Moderna: Advisor/Consultant|Moderna: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Currently an employee|Moderna: Stocks/Bonds|Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Sanofi Pasteur: Advisor/Consultant|Sanofi Pasteur: Grant/Research Support|Sanofi Pasteur: Safety Monitoring Board|WCG/ACI Clinical: Data Adjudication Board Christina A. Rostad, MD, BioFire Inc.: Grant/Research Support|GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals: Grant/Research Support|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|MedImmune LLC: Grant/Research Support|Meissa Vaccines, Inc.: RSV vaccine technology|Merck & Co., Inc.: Grant/Research Support|Micron Technology, Inc.: Grant/Research Support|Moderna, Inc.: Grant/Research Support|Novavax: Grant/Research Support|PaxVax: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer, Inc.: Grant/Research Support|Regeneron: Grant/Research Support|Sanofi Pasteur: Grant/Research Support