Disease Course and Pulmonary Involvement of COVID-19 during the Delta Variant Period in Germany: A Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Patients at a Tertiary Hospital

Andrea Steuwe; Alexandra Ljimani; Marcel Andree; Tobias Wienemann; Nadine Lübke; Andreas Walker; Björn-Erik Ole Jensen; The Racoon Study Group; Karl Ludger Radke; Gerald Antoch; Birte Valentin

doi:10.2174/0115734056282920231212104602

Disease Course and Pulmonary Involvement of COVID-19 during the Delta Variant Period in Germany: A Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Patients at a Tertiary Hospital

Curr Med Imaging. 2024 Feb 26. doi: 10.2174/0115734056282920231212104602. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
² Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
³ Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
⁴ Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University D-40225 Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
⁵ .

PMID: 38415484
DOI: 10.2174/0115734056282920231212104602

Abstract

<p>Background: Despite the availability of vaccines, there is an increasing number of SARS-CoV-2-breakthrough-infections.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a radiological difference in lung parenchymal involvement between infected vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Additionally, we aimed to investigate whether vaccination has an impact on the course of illness and the need for intensive care.

Methods: This study includes all patients undergoing chest computed tomography (CT) or x-ray imaging in case of a proven SARS-CoV-2 infection between September and November 2021. Anonymized CT and x-ray images were reviewed retrospectively and in consensus by two radiologists, applying an internal severity score scheme for CT and x-ray as well as CARE and BRIXIA scores for x-ray. Radiological findings were compared to vaccination status, comorbidities, inpatient course of the patient's illness and the subjective onset of symptoms.

Results: In total, 38 patients with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent a CT scan, and 168 patients underwent an x-ray examination during the study period. Of these, 32% were vaccinated in the CT group, and 45% in the x-ray group. For the latter, vaccinated patients exhibited significantly more comorbidities (cardiovascular (p=0.002), haemato-oncological diseases (p=0.016), immunosuppression (p=0.004)), and a higher age (p<0.001). Vaccinated groups showed significantly lower extent of lung involvement (severity scores in CT cohort and x-ray cohort both p≤0.020; ARDS 42% in unvaccinated CT cohort vs. 8% in vaccinated CT cohort). Furthermore, vaccinated patients in the CT cohort had significantly less need for intensive care treatment (p=0.040).

Conclusion: Our data suggest that vaccination, in the case of breakthrough infection, favours a milder course of illness concerning lung parenchymal involvement and the need for intensive care, despite negative predictors, such as immunosuppression or other pre-existing conditions.</p>.

Keywords: ARDS; COVID-19; CT; Genome sequencing; Viral infection.; X-ray.