Those infected with the Delta variant are twice as likely to be hospitalized: new study, the largest conducted so far on the mutation
There is a double risk of hospitalization for those who contract it Delta variant compared to the Alpha variant of the coronavirus. To certify it is a new British study, the largest to date. The report examined more than 40,000 cases of British citizens confirmed by the sequencing. The data were processed in relation to the period from March 29 to May 23 2021. Researchers from Public Health England and the University of Cambridge were involved in the study. The work was funded by UK Research and Innovation, Medical Research Council, the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care and the National Institute for Health Research.
The data that emerged suggest, the experts explain, that the infections triggered by the Delta variant, now prevalent in Europe, “can lead to a greater burden on health services”. Greater burden when compared to the Alpha mutation. The subjects most at risk are the “unvaccinated people” and those considered “most vulnerable”.
Thus, the researchers highlighted that the risk of hospitalization it increases in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated subjects.
The Delta variant was first detected in India in December 2020. Early studies on the mutation had immediately pointed out that it is up to 50% more transmissible than the Alpha variant. The mutation currently dominant in Europe also raises the risk of going to hospital for emergency care or being hospitalized within 14 days of infection.
The new British study was based on cases “confirmed by whole genome sequencing, which is the most accurate way to determine the viral variant”.
“Most of the cases included in the analysis were unvaccinated,” explains Gavi Dabrera, of the National Infection Service, Public Health England (Phe), one of the study’s authors.
“We already know – continues Debrera – that the vaccination offers excellent protection against Delta and as this variant accounts for over 98% of Covid cases in the UK, it is imperative that those who have not received two doses of the vaccine do so as soon as possible. In any case, it is important in case of symptoms to stay at home and take a tampon as soon as possible ”.
In the time frame in which the samples were taken for the study, there were a total of 34,656 cases of the Alpha variant (80%) and 8,682 cases attributable to Delta (20%). However, the proportion of Delta cases has been increasing exponentially to involve about two thirds of new cases in the week starting May 17, 2021 (65%, 3,973 / 6,090).
The study showed that only 1.8% of cases (considering both those infected with the Delta variant and those with the Alpha variant) had received both vaccine doses; 74% were unvaccinated and 24% had only one dose.
“Our analysis shows that, in the absence of vaccination, any Delta epidemic will impose a greater burden on health care than an Alpha epidemic,” concludes Anne Presanis, senior statistician at Cambridge University, who is one of the authors of the study.
Virgil News | 08-28-2021 08:39
Photo source: ANSA
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