Individuals With SARS-CoV-2 Infection During the First and Second Waves in Catalonia, Spain: Retrospective Observational Study Using Daily Updated Data (Preprint)
Author:
Alves-Cabratosa LiaORCID, Comas-Cufí MarcORCID, Blanch JordiORCID, Martí-Lluch RuthORCID, Ponjoan AnnaORCID, Castro-Guardiola AntoniORCID, Hurtado-Ganoza AbelardoORCID, Pérez-Jaén AnaORCID, Rexach-Fumaña MariaORCID, Faixedas-Brunsoms DelfiORCID, Gispert-Ametller Maria AngelsORCID, Guell-Cargol AnnaORCID, Rodriguez-Batista MariaORCID, Santaularia-Font FerranORCID, Orriols RamonORCID, Bonnin-Vilaplana MarcORCID, Calderón López Juan CarlosORCID, Sabater-Talaverano GladisORCID, Queralt Moles Francesc XavierORCID, Rodriguez-Requejo SaraORCID, Avellana-Revuelta EsteveORCID, Balló ElisabetORCID, Fages-Masmiquel EsterORCID, Sirvent Josep-MariaORCID, Lorencio CarolORCID, Morales-Pedrosa Josep MiquelORCID, Ortiz-Ballujera PatriciaORCID, Ramos RafelORCID
Abstract
BACKGROUND
A description of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection comparing the first and second waves could help adapt health services to manage this highly transmissible infection.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to describe the epidemiology of individuals with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the characteristics of patients with a positive test comparing the first and second waves in Catalonia, Spain.
METHODS
This study had 2 stages. First, we analyzed daily updated data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals from Girona (Catalonia). Second, we compared 2 retrospective cohorts of patients with a positive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction or rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2. The severity of patients with a positive test was defined by their admission to hospital, admission to intermediate respiratory care, admission to the intensive care unit, or death. The first wave was from March 1, 2020, to June 24, 2020, and the second wave was from June 25, 2020, to December 8, 2020.
RESULTS
The numbers of tests and cases were lower in the first wave than in the second wave (26,096 tests and 3140 cases in the first wave versus 140,332 tests and 11,800 cases in the second wave), but the percentage of positive results was higher in the first wave than in the second wave (12.0% versus 8.4%). Among individuals with a positive diagnostic test, 818 needed hospitalization in the first wave and 680 in the second; however, the percentage of hospitalized individuals was higher in the first wave than in the second wave (26.1% versus 5.8%). The group that was not admitted to hospital included older people and those with a higher percentage of comorbidities in the first wave, whereas the characteristics of the groups admitted to hospital were more alike.
CONCLUSIONS
Screening systems for SARS-CoV-2 infection were scarce during the first wave, but were more adequate during the second wave, reflecting the usefulness of surveillance systems to detect a high number of asymptomatic infected individuals and their contacts, to help control this pandemic. The characteristics of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first and second waves differed substantially; individuals in the first wave were older and had a worse health condition.
Publisher
JMIR Publications Inc.
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