WASHINGTON: Scientists have identified three different types of Covid-19 disease characteristics in patients, depending on their co-morbidity, complications and clinical outcomes, an advancement that may help target future interventions to the most at-risk individuals.
The new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, analyzed electronic health records (EHRs) from 14 hospitals in the Midwestern United States and 60 primary care clinics in the state of Minnesota.
According to the researchers, including those at the University of Minnesota in the US, the study included 7,538 patients with confirmed Covid-19 between March 7 and August 25, 2020, of which 1,022 patients had to be hospitalized.
Nearly 60 percent of the patients enrolled in the study presented what the researchers termed “phenotype II.”
They said that about 23 percent of the patients exhibited “phenotype I” or the “unfavorable phenotype” associated with the worst clinical outcomes.
The researchers said these patients had the highest rate of comorbidities related to heart and kidney disorders.
According to the study, 173 patients, or 16.9 percent, showed “phenotype III” or the “favorable phenotype,” which the scientists said was associated with the best clinical outcomes.
Although this group had the lowest rate of complications and death, the scientists said these patients had the highest rate of respiratory comorbidities and a 10 percent greater risk of hospitalization compared to the other phenotypes.
Overall, they said that phenotypes I and II were associated with a 7.30-fold and 2.57-fold increase in the risk of death compared to phenotype III.
Based on the results, the scientists said such phenotype-specific medical care could improve Covid-19 results.
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 way. By identifying similar affected groups, we not only improve our understanding of the disease process, but also allow us to accurately target future interventions towards patients at the highest risk” , the scientists added. .
The new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, analyzed electronic health records (EHRs) from 14 hospitals in the Midwestern United States and 60 primary care clinics in the state of Minnesota.
According to the researchers, including those at the University of Minnesota in the US, the study included 7,538 patients with confirmed Covid-19 between March 7 and August 25, 2020, of which 1,022 patients had to be hospitalized.
Nearly 60 percent of the patients enrolled in the study presented what the researchers termed “phenotype II.”
They said that about 23 percent of the patients exhibited “phenotype I” or the “unfavorable phenotype” associated with the worst clinical outcomes.
The researchers said these patients had the highest rate of comorbidities related to heart and kidney disorders.
According to the study, 173 patients, or 16.9 percent, showed “phenotype III” or the “favorable phenotype,” which the scientists said was associated with the best clinical outcomes.
Although this group had the lowest rate of complications and death, the scientists said these patients had the highest rate of respiratory comorbidities and a 10 percent greater risk of hospitalization compared to the other phenotypes.
Overall, they said that phenotypes I and II were associated with a 7.30-fold and 2.57-fold increase in the risk of death compared to phenotype III.
Based on the results, the scientists said such phenotype-specific medical care could improve Covid-19 results.
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 way. By identifying similar affected groups, we not only improve our understanding of the disease process, but also allow us to accurately target future interventions towards patients at the highest risk” , the scientists added. .