Novavax applies for FDA nod for its updated COVID vaccine – University of Minnesota Twin Cities

bunditinay / iStock

A new report in Emerging Infectious Diseases reveals an 11.8% prevalence of long COVID during the Omicron BA.5 wave in Japan, based on outcomes seen among 25,911 adults 20 years and older.

Japan experienced the seventh wave of COVID-19 in July 2022, caused by the Omicron subvariant BA.5 lineage, the authors said.

"The Omicron variant tends to cause less severe acute symptoms and has a similar or lower risk for postCOVID-19 condition than the previous variant," the authors wrote. "Longer sequelae and risks for postCOVID-19 condition in persons infected with the Omicron variant compared with noninfected populations remain unknown."

The study was based on adults 20 to 69 years of age who had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during July to August 2022 and answered a survey about the presence of 26 symptoms roughly 6 months following their Omicron infection. Cases were matched with controls, and any symptoms were ranked on severity and impact on daily activities.

The percentage of postCOVID-19 condition for cases was 11.8%, and the percentage of persistent symptoms among controls was 5.5%. According to the authors, the most frequent postCOVID-19 condition was cough (3.7%), followed by difficulty concentrating (3.1%), hair loss (2.8%), fatigue (2.4%), and brain fog (2.2%).

The odds ratio (OR) of any persistent symptoms for cases versus controls was 2.33 (95% confidence interval, 2.05 to 2.64).

Among the cases, female sex, underlying medical conditions, and severity of acute COVID-19 were associated with having postCOVID-19 condition.

"Among the cases, female sex, underlying medical conditions, and severity of acute COVID-19 were associated with having postCOVID-19 condition. We recommend a longer follow-up study of the effects on daily life and socioeconomic status after infection during the Omicron-dominant wave," the authors concluded.

Visit link:

Novavax applies for FDA nod for its updated COVID vaccine - University of Minnesota Twin Cities