Comparative study of ‘the clinical profile of COVID-19-positive patients with and without vaccination profile’

Abstract

Background: More than 4.5 million people have perished from the COVID-19 virus, which has so far been linked to more than 200 million reported cases. Vaccination is an ultimatum for survival from this disease. Hence, this research was designed to study the course of disease in vaccinated and unvaccinated group and to understand the significance of blood markers, to study lung involvement (HRCT), number of hospitalised days, number of O2 days, and number of days of ventilator support in both the groups in hospitalised patients. Material and Methods: A cohort study was conducted among COVID-19-positive patients tested either with rapid antigen test or RT-PCR test hospitalised in Kullolli Institute of Health Services. Patients who had received at least one dose of vaccination were included in the analysis. Data were analysed by using unpaired t-test, between the two groups of survived and non-survived patients. Chi-square test and/or Fisher's exact tests were used to check the association. Results: In the study, only 71 (18.6%) patients were vaccinated. There were 49 (69.01%) patients out of 71, representing a massive number of vaccinations for people over the age of 50. There were 40 patients with co-morbid conditions, 31 (77.50%) of whom were vaccinated. CRP levels were significantly severe in non-survived patients of non-vaccinated group (Fisher's exact = 8.938, P = 0.024). d-Dimer levels, serum ferritin levels, and HRCT scores were significantly related to the outcome (survival/non-survival). Patients who did not survive have higher levels of these parameters. In the vaccinated group, these associations were not significantly associated. Vaccination did not show statistically significant benefits in patients with co-morbid conditions. Conclusion: Vaccination has enormous life-saving potential. Regardless of the type of vaccine used, the immunisation provides life-saving protection against a disease that has killed millions.