Clinical characteristics analysis of COVID-19 patients from the first significant community outbreak by SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 in Taiwan as experienced from a single northern medical center

• Published in: Journal of microbiology, immunology and infection immunology and infection, 2022-12, Vol.55 (6), p.1036-1043
• Main Authors: Huang, Ruei-Chang, Chiu, Chun-Hsiang, Shang, Hung-Sheng, Perng, Cherng-Lih, Chiang, Tsung-Ta, Tsai, Chun-Chou, Wang, Ching-Hsun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: B.1.1.529; B.1.1.7; Characteristics; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Original; SARS-COV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - genetics; Taiwan; Taiwan - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1684-1182; 1995-9133
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.08.007

Clinical characteristics of patients in the first community outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant B.1.1.7 in Taiwan have not been characterized. SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens from inpatients between May 7 and June 15 in 2021were screen for SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage by VirSNiP assay. Clinical characteristics were reviewed and compared with those from Feb 1 to April 30, 2020 and from Jan 1 to March 31, 2022. One hundred forty-one inpatients from May 7 to June 15, 2021 infected with SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage were included. The major presenting symptoms were fever (88.7%) and cough (59.6%). Incidence of relevant complications including pulmonary embolism, simultaneous infections with bacteria, virus, and fungi were 0.7%, 12.8%, 13.5%, and 2.1%, respectively. Old age, high Charlson comorbidity index, short of breath, and initial critical illness were independently associated with 28-day mortality (all p