The Mortality, Clinical Course and Vaccine Status of COVID-19 Patients with Different SARS-Cov-2 Variants

Purpose: Several SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic and alpha, beta, and delta variants were declared as variants of concern. Our aim is to determine the clinical course and vaccine status of COVID-19 patients with alpha, beta, and delta variants. Materials and Methods: SARS-CoV-2 virus and variant determination in upper respiratory swab samples were done by Rt-PCR. Results: The mortality rates for the alpha, beta, and delta variants were as follows: 4.12 %, 18.43 %, and 3.30 % respectively (p=0.001). Patients who required an intensive care unit (ICU) stay were also different for alpha, beta, and delta variants: 3.50 %, 18.42 %, and 3.85 % respectively (p=0.001). 2.47 % of alpha-infected patients were in need of mechanical ventilation (MV), whereas 13.16 % of beta infected, and 1.10 % of delta infected patients needed MV (p=0.001). 49.8 % of Alpha infected patients, % 65.79 of Beta patients, and 36.81 % of Delta patients were fully vaccinated (p<0.001). The m-RNA vaccination (7.69 %) and booster dose vaccination rate (2.75%) were higher in the delta variant (p=0.001). Conclusion: Beta variant has been shown to employ the highest possibility for clinical severity and reduced vaccine efficacy. Global public health interventions are needed to avoid the emergence of high risk variants.