Patients whose virus had a 382-nucleotide deletion had less-severe disease than those who were infected with wild-type virus.
Whether SARS-CoV-2 variants affect COVID-19 severity is a topic of intense interest. Early in the pandemic, a SARS-CoV-2 variant with a 382-nucleotide deletion in open reading frame (ORF)-8 (which has an unknown function) emerged in China and was subsequently detected in cases in Singapore and Taiwan. Now, investigators have compared clinical outcomes in people infected with wild-type virus or the delta 382-variant.
Between January and March 2020, 131 patients hospitalized in Singapore were enrolled into the study; 70% had wild-type virus, 22% had delta 382-variant virus, and 8% had mixed infection. Compared with the group infected with wild-type virus, those infected with delta 382-variant alone were younger (median age, 37 vs. 47 years), h…
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DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; ID Images (idimages.org); Infectious Diseases Society of America COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines; International Antiviral Society–USA (Guidelines Committee)
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHIV Medicine Association; Infectious Diseases Society of America (Board of Directors)
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; ID Images (idimages.org); Infectious Diseases Society of America COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines; International Antiviral Society–USA (Guidelines Committee)
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHIV Medicine Association; Infectious Diseases Society of America (Board of Directors)