Research center for antibiotic stewardship and antimicrobial resistance, Infectious diseases department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Infectious diseases department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Infect Dis. 2023 Apr 17;23(1):237. doi: 10.1186/s12879-023-08181-4.
Omicron (B.1.1.529) is the fifth variant of concern of SARS-CoV-2, which has several subvariants. Clinical features of BA.1 and BA.2 infections have been described in the literature, but we have limited information about the clinical profile of BA.5, which caused the seventh wave in Iran.
A prospective observational study was conducted on the BA.5 confirmed patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran, Iran, from 11th to 31st August 2022. The patients were divided into the two groups of outpatients and hospitalized patients, and their clinical, radiological, and laboratory data and outcomes were recorded and analyzed.
We included 193 patients with confirmed BA.5 infection, of whom 48 patients (24·8%) were hospitalized. The mean age of the patients was 45·3 ± 16·5 years, and 113 patients (58·5%) were female. The mean number of days patients had symptoms was 6·8 ± 2·4 days. The most common symptoms were weakness (69·9%), sore throat (67·4%), myalgia (66·3%), hoarseness (63·7%), headache (55·4%), fatigue (54·9%), and dry cough (50·3%). Fever and dyspnea were significantly more observed in the hospitalized patients (p < 0·0001). The COVID-19 vaccination rate was significantly lower in hospitalized patients than in outpatients (35/48-72·9% vs. 140/145 - 96·6%, p < 0·0001). The most common underlying diseases were hypertension (16·1%), diabetes mellitus (9·8%), and cardiovascular diseases (9·8%), all of which were significantly more common in hospitalized patients. Lung opacities were observed in 81·2% of hospitalized patients. By the end of our study, 1·5% of patients died despite receiving critical care services.
Our findings suggested that BA.5 symptoms are more non-respiratory and usually improve within 7 days. Although the proportion of hospitalized patients is still significant, very few patients require intensive care. COVID-19 vaccination is effective in reducing the hospitalization rate.
Not applicable. This study is not a clinical trial.
奥密克戎（B.1.1.529）是 SARS-CoV-2 的第五种关切变体，它有几个亚变体。BA.1 和 BA.2 感染的临床特征已在文献中描述，但我们对导致伊朗第七波疫情的 BA.5 的临床特征知之甚少。
我们对 2022 年 8 月 11 日至 31 日从伊朗德黑兰伊玛目霍梅尼医院综合大楼转诊的 BA.5 确诊患者进行了一项前瞻性观察性研究。将患者分为门诊患者和住院患者两组，记录并分析他们的临床、影像学和实验室数据及结局。
我们纳入了 193 例确诊的 BA.5 感染患者，其中 48 例（24.8%）住院。患者的平均年龄为 45.3±16.5 岁，113 例（58.5%）为女性。患者的平均症状持续时间为 6.8±2.4 天。最常见的症状是乏力（69.9%）、咽痛（67.4%）、肌痛（66.3%）、声音嘶哑（63.7%）、头痛（55.4%）、乏力（54.9%）和干咳（50.3%）。发热和呼吸困难在住院患者中更为常见（p<0.0001）。与门诊患者相比，住院患者的 COVID-19 疫苗接种率明显更低（35/48-72.9% vs. 140/145-96.6%，p<0.0001）。最常见的基础疾病是高血压（16.1%）、糖尿病（9.8%）和心血管疾病（9.8%），所有这些在住院患者中均更为常见。81.2%的住院患者肺部有阴影。在我们的研究结束时，尽管接受了重症监护服务，但仍有 1.5%的患者死亡。
我们的研究结果表明，BA.5 的症状更多是非呼吸道症状，通常在 7 天内会有所改善。尽管住院患者的比例仍然很高，但很少有患者需要重症监护。COVID-19 疫苗接种可有效降低住院率。
