https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2023.2771

Retrospective analysis of epidemiologic features and clinical course of COVID-19 patients and comparison between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients

Early Access
Submitted: September 6, 2023
Accepted: October 6, 2023
Published: October 19, 2023
COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccines, respiratory insufficiency, SARS-CoV-2
Abstract Views: 523
PDF_early view: 274
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Authors

Domenica Di Costanzo
domenica.dicostanzo@libero.it
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0041-6471
Pneumology Department, Sant'Anna and San Sebastiano Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
Mariano Mazza
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5259-1648
ASL Caserta, Distretto 23, Mondragone (CE), Italy.
Andreina Carbone
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2190-7010
Cardiology Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
Anna Pratillo
Pneumology Department, Sant'Anna and San Sebastiano Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
Felice Di Perna
Pneumology Department, Sant'Anna and San Sebastiano Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
Vittoria Graziani
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6643-8958
Pneumology Department, Sant'Anna and San Sebastiano Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
Cristina Casals Marin
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1198-6833
Pneumology Department, Sant'Anna and San Sebastiano Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
Stefania Tartaglione
Pneumology Department, Sant'Anna and San Sebastiano Hospital, Caserta, Italy.
Antonio Ponticiello
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7670-1167
Pneumology Department, Sant'Anna and San Sebastiano Hospital, Caserta, Italy.

At our Pneumology Department, we dealt with three waves of COVID-19 pandemics. The purpose of this study is to compare patients' epidemiological and clinical characteristics across waves and to assess the effect of vaccination on clinical presentation, course, and prognosis. From March 2020 to March 2022, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare patient characteristics. Based on the time of hospital admission, data from 456 patients were collected and divided into three groups (IW, IIW, and IIIW). In addition, we looked at the link between vaccination and clinical presentation and hospitalization outcome. The average age and comorbidities of patients increased, as did the worsening of respiratory conditions at admission (PaO2/FiO2 median 207 in IW, 95.5 in IIW, and 99 in IIIW). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was the primary respiratory support during the first wave, but an increase in the use of high flow nasal cannula and noninvasive ventilation was later observed, resulting in a higher hospital discharge rate and a lower intubation rate. Vaccinated patients had less severe COVID-19-related respiratory failure, a better clinical course, and a higher hospital discharge rate (71.4% in V-group vs 44.7% in NV-group, p<0.001). Patients' characteristics changed over the three waves, possibly due to virus mutations. The advancement of clinical and therapeutic management knowledge has contributed to a reduction in the severity of respiratory failure. The vaccination campaign improved the clinical course and reduced mortality.

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How to Cite

Di Costanzo, Domenica, Mariano Mazza, Andreina Carbone, Anna Pratillo, Felice Di Perna, Vittoria Graziani, Cristina Casals Marin, Stefania Tartaglione, and Antonio Ponticiello. 2023. “Retrospective Analysis of Epidemiologic Features and Clinical Course of COVID-19 Patients and Comparison Between Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Patients”. Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease, October. https://doi.org/10.4081/monaldi.2023.2771.
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