Comparative analysis of pneumonia caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods

Abstract

Background. Pneumonia with SARS-CoV-2 infection (PS) was one of the most serious complications and causes of death in the COVID-19 pandemic. The evolution of the virus, immunologic adaptation, and vaccination of the population have influenced the clinical evolution of these pneumonias in the post-pandemic period. Objective(s). Comparative analysis of clinical, paraclinical, and evolutionary characteristics of patients with pneumonia caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the pandemic and postpandemic periods. Materials and methods. The retrospective study included 56 patients with PS: 35 admitted during the pandemic (Group P) and 21 in the post-pandemic period (Group PP). Clinicalparaclinical and radiological data, severity, and length of hospitalization were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel and MedCalc software. Results. In the pandemic group, 100% had bilateral lung involvement, compared to 42.86% in the post-pandemic group. The rate of comorbidities (hypertension and diabetes) was higher among patients in the P group (74.29% vs. 28.57%, p ˂ 0.01). The length of hospital stay ranged from 8 to 14 days in 65.71% of patients in the P group, compared to 85.71% of patients in the PP group, who were discharged within 7 days. The Brixia score was significantly higher in pneumonia cases in group P, as was the CURB-65 score, indicating a more severe course of pneumonia among COVID-19 patients during the pandemic (score ≥ 3 p. in 62.86% vs. 23.81%). Conclusion(s). Our results showed that COVID-19 pneumonia during the pandemic had a more severe clinical and radiological course compared to post-pandemic cases, possibly due to the evolution of the virus, but also to vaccination. Similar data have been reported in other similar studies.