Repeat COVID infections seem to predispose sufferers to illness, loss of life

Repeat SARS-CoV-2 infections confer vital further danger of hostile multi-organ medical situations and poor outcomes equivalent to hospitalization, diabetes, kidney illness, psychological sickness, loss of life, and illnesses affecting the lungs, coronary heart, mind, blood, and musculoskeletal methods, suggests a examine revealed yesterday in Nature Drugs.

Researchers at Washington College and the Veterans Affairs (VA) St. Louis Well being Care System used the VA’s nationwide healthcare database to estimate the danger of poor 6-month outcomes amongst 443,588 veterans who had one COVID-19 an infection, 40,947 contaminated a minimum of twice, and 5,334,729 uninfected controls from Mar 1, 2020, to Apr 6, 2022. Of these with a minimum of two infections, most had two or three, and some had 4.

In contrast with sufferers with no reinfection, repeat an infection was tied to greater than double the danger of loss of life (hazard ratio [HR], 2.17) and greater than thrice the danger of hospitalization (HR, 3.32). Such sufferers have been 3.5 occasions extra more likely to develop lung illness, 3.0 occasions extra more likely to have new-onset coronary heart situations, and 1.6 occasions extra more likely to have neurologic illness.

The best dangers have been within the 30 days after an infection however have been nonetheless evident at 6 months. The cumulative dangers of repeat an infection rose by the variety of infections. “Decreasing total burden of loss of life and illness on account of SARS-CoV-2 would require methods for reinfection prevention,” the authors wrote.

In a Washington College information launch, senior writer Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, scientific epidemiologist on the college’s medical college, stated he has noticed in latest months “an air of invincibility amongst individuals who have had COVID-19 or their vaccinations and boosters, and particularly amongst individuals who have had an an infection and in addition obtained vaccines.”

However the analysis reveals the potential detriment of serial infections, he stated: “With out ambiguity, our analysis confirmed that getting an an infection a second, third or fourth time contributes to further well being dangers.… Going into the winter season, folks ought to concentrate on the dangers and apply vigilance to cut back their danger of an infection or reinfection.”
Nov 10 Nat Med study
Nov 10 Washington College news release

Hypertension linked to larger danger of extreme COVID-19

In a examine in PLOS One of greater than 16,000 contaminated folks in the UK, hypertension was discovered to be related to a 22% increased odds of extreme COVID-19, although efficiently lowering blood stress via medicine was linked with a corresponding discount in danger.

The examine checked out medical data from the UK Biobank, a longitudinal potential examine initiated in 2006 that has recruited greater than 500,000 women and men aged from 40 to 69 years. It included 16,134 peopleo who examined optimistic for COVID-19. Of these, 22% (3,584) developed extreme COVID-19, and 40% (6,517) had hypertension.

All COVID-19 data from March 2020 via April 2021 have been included within the examine. The authors outlined extreme COVID-19 as a case that required hospitalization.

Hypertension was related to 22% increased odds of extreme COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 1.33) in contrast with regular blood stress.

In these taking blood stress medicine, elevated systolic blood stress (SBP) confirmed a dose-response relationship with extreme COVID-19 (150 to 159 mm Hg vs 120 to 129 OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.44 to 2.53; >180 mm Hg versus 120 to 129 OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.06 to three.51).

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-II receptor blockers weren’t related to altered danger of extreme COVID-19, the authors stated.

“Though the mortality price on account of COVID-19 has been vastly diminished during the last yr on account of mutation, vaccination and efficient therapies, this examine highlights the significance of hypertension as a danger issue for COVID-19,” the authors concluded. “Our information counsel that additional analysis is required into the mechanisms driving hypertension as a danger issue for COVID-19 in case of novel, extra extreme strains or different viruses sooner or later.”
Nov 9 PLOS One study

COVID-19 circumstances rise in Australia, decline in Europe

As Australia approaches its summer season season, a brand new wave of COVID-19 exercise is below method, based on official and media stories.

Norelle Sherry, MBBS, with the Doherty Institute, advised Australia’s ABC Information this week that the wave is pushed by a number of Omicron offshoots. BA.5 remains to be dominant, however scientists are additionally detecting the BA.5-descendent BQ.1 and the Omicron recombinant virus XBB. “We’re truly in additional of a COVID soup—not my unique phrase, however I believe it is undoubtedly apt,” she advised ABC.

In a associated improvement, a Princess Cruise ship that traveled on a 12-day journey to New Zealand with 4,300 company and crew on board will disembark in Sydney tomorrow with 800 folks optimistic for COVID-19, the Sydney Morning Herald reported at the moment. New South Wales well being officers categorised the ship outbreak as excessive impression, its highest stage, that means the ship is not capable of keep its vital companies on account of employees or useful resource shortages.

In different world developments, the European Centre for Illness Prevention and Management (ECDC) in its newest weekly replace stated COVID-19 circumstances and deaths proceed to say no within the area and that hospitalizations are declining or steady. BA.5 remains to be dominant, and the proportion of BQ.1 is at 18.1%, up from 11.3% the earlier week.

The European Medicines Company (EMA) yesterday introduced the approval of Sanofi’s adjuvanted vaccine that features the spike protein of the Beta variant for use as a booster for adults beforehand vaccinated with mRNA or adenovirus vaccines.

Additionally, China—experiencing an increase in COVID exercise—has relaxed a few of its measures, based on Reuters. It reduce the quarantine interval for contacts by 2 days and eased fines for airways carrying passengers who check optimistic for COVID.
Nov 9 ABC Information story
Nov 11 Sydney Morning Herald story
Nov 10 ECDC update
Nov 10 EMA announcement
Nov 11 Reuters story