Doctors at Yitzhak Rabin Medical Center reported findings from the 2021-2022 flu season. Hospitalized influenza patients had a noticeably lower risk of dying within 30 days compared with those hospitalized with the omicron variant of COVID-19. The researchers plan to present their results at the Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Copenhagen [Citation: ECCMID presentation].
In their study, the team analyzed the outcomes of 167 patients admitted with COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant and 221 patients admitted with influenza. The Israeli study tracked a 30-day mortality rate, noting that 63 patients died during the period: 19 of the influenza cohort accounted for 9 percent, while 44 of the COVID-19 group accounted for 26 percent [Citation: ECCMID abstract].
The Omicron variant has been characterized as less transmissible and often less severe than earlier strains such as Delta and Alpha. The researchers observed that the high death rate among hospitalized Omicron patients may reflect the older age and higher prevalence of chronic conditions like diabetes and kidney disease in this subset, rather than the intrinsic lethality of the variant alone. These nuances highlight the influence of patient characteristics on outcomes during severe illness.
The findings underscore the ongoing need for continued research into respiratory infections and bolster the value of regular vaccination against both influenza and COVID-19, particularly for older adults and those with chronic illnesses. The study also emphasizes the potential benefits of timely vaccination campaigns, early detection, and targeted clinical care for high-risk groups to help reduce mortality and improve recovery trajectories [Citation: ECCMID briefing].
Overall, the researchers call for expanded studies to compare clinical courses across variants and flu seasons, which could inform public health strategies and help healthcare systems allocate resources effectively during overlapping waves of respiratory viruses [Citation: ECCMID insights].