Outcomes of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during resurgence driven by Omicron lineages BA.4 and BA.5 compared with previous waves in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.11.024
• Publication Date: 2022-11-25T13:56:49Z
• Authors: Mary-Ann Davies; Erna Morden; Petro Rousseau; Juanita Arendse; Jamy-Lee Bam; Linda Boloko; Keith Cloete; Cheryl Cohen; Nicole Chetty; Pierre Dane; Alexa Heekes; Nei-Yuan Hsiao; Mehreen Hunter; Hannah Hussey; Theuns Jacobs; Waasila Jassat; Saadiq Kariem; Reshma Kassanjee; Inneke Laenen; Sue Le Roux; Richard Lessells; Hassan Mahomed; Deborah Maughan; Graeme Meintjes; Marc Mendelson; Ayanda Mnguni; Melvin Moodley; Katy Murie; Jonathan Naude; Ntobeko A.B. Ntusi; Masudah Paleker; Arifa Parker; David Pienaar; Wolfgang Preiser; Hans Prozesky; Peter Raubenheimer; Liezel Rossouw; Neshaad Schrueder; Barry Smith; Mariette Smith; Wesley Solomon; Greg Symons; Jantjie Taljaard; Sean Wasserman; Robert J. Wilkinson; Milani Wolmarans; Nicole Wolter; Andrew Boulle
• Keywords: Cape

a b s t r c Objectives: We aimed to compare the clinical severity of Omicron BA.4/BA.5 infection with BA.1 and earlier variant infections among laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases in Western Cape, South Africa, using timing infer lineage/variant causing infection.Methods: included public sector patients aged ≥20 years COVID-19 between May 01-May 21, 2022 (BA.4/BA.5 wave) equivalent previous wave periods.We compared risk waves (i) death (ii) severe hospitalization/death (all within 21 days diagnosis) Cox regression adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, admission pressure, vaccination, infection.Results: Among 3793 from 190,836 waves, was similar (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93; 1.34).Both had lower outcomes than waves.Previous (aHR 0.29, CI 0.24; 0.36) vaccination 0.17; 0.07; 0.40 at least three doses vs no vaccine) were protective.Conclusion: Disease diagnosed BA .4/BA.5 .1 periods context growing immunity against due both which strongly protective.