Fever was found to be probably the most common non-respiratory feature of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in line with research published on the ATS 2023 International Conference.  The finding held true no matter which COVID variant patients had, and whether or not they were fully vaccinated or not fully vaccinated. The researchers, who also checked out mortality risk, found that patients who weren’t fully vaccinated had a better risk of dying when infected with either the Omicron or Delta variant.

The study was based on the examination of the University of California Health Covid Research Data Set’s (UC CORDS) medical records of 63,454 patients who had been treated in a University of California medical center for COVID-19. The scientists applied statistical tests to find out the connection between non-respiratory features, vaccination status and differences in mortality between infection with the Omicron and Delta variants.

We determined that we’d conduct this study since the scientific literature has shown that, although COVID is a respiratory disease, it affects multiple organ systems. We wanted to find out which organ systems and features were most affected by the several SARS-CoV-2 variants, which were more more likely to result in death, and the effect of being vaccinated or not fully vaccinated.”

Shannon Cotton, BSN, RN, CCRN, corresponding writer, ICU nurse, UC San Diego Health and nursing science PhD student and Behrens Fellow, Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing, UC Irvine

She added: “We found that the danger of developing non-respiratory features of COVID-19 was statistically higher in those that weren’t fully vaccinated, across all variants.”

Heart disease was statistically higher in those not fully vaccinated on the time that Omicron was dominant. Specifically, tachycardia-;a heart rate of greater than 100 beats per minute-;was found in additional individuals not fully vaccinated through the surges of each Omicron and Delta.

As well as, each diabetes and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were features of all variants, no matter vaccination status.

“Our findings speak to the importance of vaccination as the chances of dying were significantly increased in those not fully vaccinated,” emphasized Ms. Cotton.

Source:

American Thoracic Society