WASHINGTON: Scientists have identified three different types of Covid-19 disease traits in patients, depending on their comorbidities, complications, and clinical outcomes, an advance that could help target future interventions at those at greatest risk.
The new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, analyzed the electronic health records (EHRs) of 14 hospitals in the Central USA and of 60 primary care clinics in the state of Minnesota.
According to the researchers, including those from the University of Minnesota in the US, the study included 7,538 patients with a confirmed Covid-19 between March 7 and August 25, 2020, of whom 1,022 had to be admitted.
Nearly 60 percent of the patients included in the research, the researchers called ‘phenotype II’.
According to them, about 23 percent of the patients presented ‘phenotype I’, or the ‘adverse phenotype’, which is associated with the worst clinical outcomes.
The researchers said these patients had the highest level of comorbidities associated with heart and kidney function.
According to the study, 173 patients, or 16.9 percent, presented ‘phenotype III’, or the ‘favorable phenotype’, which scientists say is associated with the best clinical outcomes.
While this group had the lowest complication rate and mortality rate, the scientists said these patients had the highest percentage of respiratory comorbidities, as well as a 10 percent greater risk of hospitalization compared to the other phenotypes.
In general, they said that phenotypes I and II are associated with 7.30-fold and 2.57-fold increases in mortality risk relative to phenotype III.
Based on the results, the scientists said that such phenotype-specific medical care could improve the Covid-19 outcomes.
However, they believe that further studies are needed to determine the usefulness of these findings in clinical practice.
“Patients do not suffer from Covid-19 in a uniform case. By identifying groups that are similarly affected, we not only improve our understanding of the disease process, but it enables us to target future interventions precisely on patients with the highest risk, “the scientists added. .
The new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, analyzed the electronic health records (EHRs) of 14 hospitals in the Central USA and of 60 primary care clinics in the state of Minnesota.
According to the researchers, including those from the University of Minnesota in the US, the study included 7,538 patients with a confirmed Covid-19 between March 7 and August 25, 2020, of whom 1,022 had to be admitted.
Nearly 60 percent of the patients included in the research, the researchers called ‘phenotype II’.
According to them, about 23 percent of the patients presented ‘phenotype I’, or the ‘adverse phenotype’, which is associated with the worst clinical outcomes.
The researchers said these patients had the highest level of comorbidities associated with heart and kidney function.
According to the study, 173 patients, or 16.9 percent, presented ‘phenotype III’, or the ‘favorable phenotype’, which scientists say is associated with the best clinical outcomes.
While this group had the lowest complication rate and mortality rate, the scientists said these patients had the highest percentage of respiratory comorbidities, as well as a 10 percent greater risk of hospitalization compared to the other phenotypes.
In general, they said that phenotypes I and II are associated with 7.30-fold and 2.57-fold increases in mortality risk relative to phenotype III.
Based on the results, the scientists said that such phenotype-specific medical care could improve the Covid-19 outcomes.
However, they believe that further studies are needed to determine the usefulness of these findings in clinical practice.
“Patients do not suffer from Covid-19 in a uniform case. By identifying groups that are similarly affected, we not only improve our understanding of the disease process, but it enables us to target future interventions precisely on patients with the highest risk, “the scientists added. .