Comparative hospitalization risk for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variant infections, by variant predominance periods and patient-level sequencing results, New York City, August 2021-January 2022.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Comparing disease severity between SARS-CoV-2 variants among populations with varied vaccination and infection histories can help characterize emerging variants and support healthcare system preparedness.

Methods

We compared COVID-19 hospitalization risk among New York City residents with positive laboratory-based SARS-CoV-2 tests when ≥98% of sequencing results were Delta (August-November 2021) or Omicron (BA.1 and sublineages, January 2022). A secondary analysis defined variant exposure using patient-level sequencing results during July 2021-January 2022, comprising 1-18% of weekly confirmed cases.

Results

Hospitalization risk was lower among patients testing positive when Omicron (16,025/488,053, 3.3%) than when Delta predominated (8268/158,799, 5.2%). I

SUBMITTER: Greene SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9835408 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature