PREreviews of “Viral and host factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease severity in Georgia, USA”

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Viral and host factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease severity in Georgia, USA

by Ludy R. Carmola, Allison Dorothy Roebling, Dara Khosravi, Rose M. Langsjoen, Andrei Bombin, Bri Bixler, Alex Reid, Cara Chen, Ethan Wang, Yang Lu, Ziduo Zheng, Rebecca Zhang, Phuong-Vi Nguyen, Robert A. Arthur, Eric Fitts, Dalia Arafat Gulick, Dustin Higginbotham, Azmain Taz, Alaa Ahmed, John Hunter Crumpler, Colleen Kraft, Wilbur A. Lam, Ahmed Babiker, Jesse J. Waggoner, Kyle P. Openo, Laura M. Johnson, Adrianna Westbrook, and Anne Piantadosi

Posted: October 25, 2023
Server: medRxiv
DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.25.23297530

Abstract

While SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have shown strong efficacy, their suboptimal uptake combined with the continued emergence of new viral variants raises concerns about the ongoing and future public health impact of COVID-19. We investigated viral and host factors, including vaccination status, that were associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease severity in a setting with low vaccination rates. We analyzed clinical and demographic data from 1,957 individuals in the state of Georgia, USA, coupled with viral genome sequencing from 1,185 samples. We found no difference in disease severity between individuals infected with Delta and Omicron variants among the participants in this study, after controlling for other factors, and we found no specific mutations associated with disease severity. Compared to those who were unvaccinated, vaccinated individuals experienced less severe SARS-CoV-2 disease, and the effect was similar for both variants. Vaccination within 270 days before infection was associated with decreased odds of moderate and severe outcomes, with the strongest association observed at 91-270 days post-vaccination. Older age and underlying health conditions, especially immunosuppression and renal disease, were associated with increased disease severity. Overall, this study provides insights into the impact of vaccination status, variants/mutations, and clinical factors on disease severity in SARS-CoV-2 infection when vaccination rates are low. Understanding these associations will help refine and reinforce messaging around the crucial importance of vaccination in mitigating the severity of SARS-CoV-2 disease.

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PREreview by Femi Qudus Arogundade

Authored by Femi Qudus Arogundade

This review reflects comments and contributions from Femi Arogundade.
The study investigates factors influencing SARS-CoV-2 disease severity in Georgia, USA, considering vaccination status, viral variants, and clinical factors. Utilizing comprehensive clinical, demographic, and genomic data, the…

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PREreviews of Viral and host factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease severity in Georgia, USA

1 PREreview