Loconsole Daniela, Centrone Francesca, Morcavallo Caterina, Campanella Silvia, Accogli Marisa, Sallustio Anna, Peccarisi Davide, Stufano Angela, Lovreglio Piero, Chironna Maria
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, School of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Hygiene Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Nov 18;9(11):1354. doi: 10.3390/vaccines9111354.
Differences in the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients infected with the Alpha and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in a large region of Southern Italy were assessed. Two cohorts of positive patients were compared. The Alpha group consisted of 11,135 subjects diagnosed between 21 March and 21 April 2021, and the Delta group consisted of 499 positive subjects diagnosed between 21 July and 21 August 2021. A descriptive and statistical analysis of the demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups was performed. The proportion of patients with mild and moderate infections was significantly higher in the Delta than in the Alpha group ( < 0.001). In fully vaccinated patients, the proportion of symptomatic individuals was significantly higher in the Delta than in the Alpha group. The Delta group showed odds ratios of 3.08 (95% CI, 2.55-3.72) for symptomatic infection and 2.66 (95% CI, 1.76-3.94) for hospitalization. Improving COVID-19 vaccination rates is a priority, since infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant has a significant impact on patient outcomes. Additional targeted prevention strategies such as social distancing, the use of masks in indoor settings irrespective of vaccination status, and the use of a sanitary passport could be crucial to contain further spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
对意大利南部一个大区域内感染新冠病毒变异株阿尔法和德尔塔的患者的人口统计学和临床特征差异进行了评估。比较了两组阳性患者。阿尔法组由2021年3月21日至4月21日期间确诊的11135名受试者组成，德尔塔组由2021年7月21日至8月21日期间确诊的499名阳性受试者组成。对两组的人口统计学和临床特征进行了描述性和统计分析。德尔塔组轻度和中度感染患者的比例显著高于阿尔法组（<0.001）。在完全接种疫苗的患者中，德尔塔组有症状个体的比例显著高于阿尔法组。德尔塔组有症状感染的优势比为3.08（95%CI，2.55 - 3.72），住院的优势比为2.66（95%CI，1.76 - 3.94）。提高新冠疫苗接种率是当务之急，因为感染新冠病毒德尔塔变异株对患者预后有重大影响。额外的针对性预防策略，如保持社交距离、无论疫苗接种状况如何在室内环境中佩戴口罩以及使用健康通行证，对于遏制新冠病毒感染的进一步传播可能至关重要。
