WASHINGTON: Scientists have identified three different types of features of Covid-19 disease in patients, based on their comorbidities, complications, and clinical outcomes, a breakthrough that may help target future interventions to people at higher risk.
The new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, looked at electronic health records (EHRs) of 14 hospitals in the midwestern U.S. and 60 primary care clinics in the state of Minnesota.
According to researchers, including those at the University of Minnesota in the United States, the study included 7,538 patients with confirmed Covid-19 between March 7 and August 25, 2020, of whom 1,022 patients needed hospitalization.
About 60% of the patients included in the research presented what the researchers called “phenotype II”.
They said about 23% of patients had “phenotype I” or “adverse phenotype,” which was associated with the worst clinical outcomes.
The researchers said these patients had the highest level of comorbidities related to heart and kidney dysfunction.
According to the study, 173 patients, or 16.9%, had “phenotype III” or the “favorable phenotype,” which scientists said was associated with the best clinical outcomes.
Although this group had the lowest complication and mortality rate, the scientists said these patients had the highest rate of respiratory comorbidities and a 10% higher risk of hospital readmission compared to the other phenotypes.
Overall, they said that phenotypes I and II were associated with a 7.30- and 2.57-fold increase in the risk of death relative to phenotype III.
According to the results, the scientists said that phenotype-specific medical care could improve Covid-19 results.
However, they believe that additional studies are needed to determine the usefulness of these results in clinical practice.
“Patients do not suffer from Covid-19 in a uniform setting. By identifying similarly affected groups, we not only improve our understanding of the disease process, but this allows us to accurately target future interventions to patients at higher risk,” he said. the scientists added. .
The new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, looked at electronic health records (EHRs) of 14 hospitals in the midwestern U.S. and 60 primary care clinics in the state of Minnesota.
According to researchers, including those at the University of Minnesota in the United States, the study included 7,538 patients with confirmed Covid-19 between March 7 and August 25, 2020, of whom 1,022 patients needed hospitalization.
About 60% of the patients included in the research presented what the researchers called “phenotype II”.
They said about 23% of patients had “phenotype I” or “adverse phenotype,” which was associated with the worst clinical outcomes.
The researchers said these patients had the highest level of comorbidities related to heart and kidney dysfunction.
According to the study, 173 patients, or 16.9%, had “phenotype III” or the “favorable phenotype,” which scientists said was associated with the best clinical outcomes.
Although this group had the lowest complication and mortality rate, the scientists said these patients had the highest rate of respiratory comorbidities and a 10% higher risk of hospital readmission compared to the other phenotypes.
Overall, they said that phenotypes I and II were associated with a 7.30- and 2.57-fold increase in the risk of death relative to phenotype III.
According to the results, the scientists said that phenotype-specific medical care could improve Covid-19 results.
However, they believe that additional studies are needed to determine the usefulness of these results in clinical practice.
“Patients do not suffer from Covid-19 in a uniform setting. By identifying similarly affected groups, we not only improve our understanding of the disease process, but this allows us to accurately target future interventions to patients at higher risk,” he said. the scientists added. .