WASHINGTON: Scientists have identified three different types of Covid-19 disease traits in patients, based on their comorbidities, complications, and clinical outcomes, a breakthrough that may help target future interventions to those most at risk.
The new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, analyzed electronic health records (EHRs) from 14 hospitals in the Midwest US and 60 primary care clinics in the state of Minnesota.
According to 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 required hospitalization.
About 60 percent of the patients included in the research had what the researchers called “phenotype II.”
They said that about 23 percent of the patients had “phenotype I” or the “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 percent, had “phenotype III” or the “favorable phenotype,” which scientists said was associated with the best clinical outcomes.
While this group had the lowest complication rate and mortality, the scientists said that these patients had the highest rate of respiratory comorbidities, as well as a 10 percent higher risk of hospital readmission compared to the other phenotypes.
Overall, they said phenotypes I and II were associated with 7.30- and 2.57-fold increases in risk of death relative to phenotype III.
Based on the results, the scientists said that such phenotype-specific healthcare could improve Covid-19 outcomes.
However, they believe that more studies are needed to determine the usefulness of these findings in clinical practice.
“Patients do not suffer from Covid-19 uniformly. By identifying similarly affected groups, we not only improve our understanding of the disease process, but this allows us to precisely target future interventions to patients at higher risk.” the scientists added. .
The new study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, analyzed electronic health records (EHRs) from 14 hospitals in the Midwest US and 60 primary care clinics in the state of Minnesota.
According to 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 required hospitalization.
About 60 percent of the patients included in the research had what the researchers called “phenotype II.”
They said that about 23 percent of the patients had “phenotype I” or the “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 percent, had “phenotype III” or the “favorable phenotype,” which scientists said was associated with the best clinical outcomes.
While this group had the lowest complication rate and mortality, the scientists said that these patients had the highest rate of respiratory comorbidities, as well as a 10 percent higher risk of hospital readmission compared to the other phenotypes.
Overall, they said phenotypes I and II were associated with 7.30- and 2.57-fold increases in risk of death relative to phenotype III.
Based on the results, the scientists said that such phenotype-specific healthcare could improve Covid-19 outcomes.
However, they believe that more studies are needed to determine the usefulness of these findings in clinical practice.
“Patients do not suffer from Covid-19 uniformly. By identifying similarly affected groups, we not only improve our understanding of the disease process, but this allows us to precisely target future interventions to patients at higher risk.” the scientists added. .
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