Viral and host factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease severity in Georgia, USA

TL;DR

This study examines how vaccination status and other factors affect the severity of SARS-CoV-2 disease in a low-vaccination area in Georgia, USA.

Contribution

The study provides insights into the impact of vaccination and health conditions on disease severity in a low-vaccination setting.

Findings

Vaccinated individuals experienced less severe SARS-CoV-2 disease compared to unvaccinated individuals.

Older age and conditions like immunosuppression and renal disease were linked to increased disease severity.

No specific viral mutations were found to be associated with disease severity.

Abstract

While SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have shown strong efficacy, the continued emergence of new viral variants raises concerns about the ongoing and future public health impact of COVID-19, especially in locations with suboptimal vaccination uptake. We investigated viral and host factors, including vaccination status, that were associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease severity in a setting with low vaccination rates. We analyzed clinical and demographic data from 1,957 individuals in the state of Georgia, USA, coupled with viral genome sequencing from 1,185 samples. We found no specific mutations associated with disease severity. Compared to those who were unvaccinated, vaccinated individuals experienced less severe SARS-CoV-2 disease, and the effect was similar for both variants. Vaccination within the prior 3-9 months was associated with decreased odds of moderate disease, severe disease, and death. Older age and underlying health conditions, especially immunosuppression and renal disease, were associated with increased disease severity. Overall, this study provides insights into the impact of vaccination status, variants/mutations, and clinical factors on disease severity in SARS-CoV-2 infection when vaccination rates are low. Understanding these associations will help refine and reinforce messaging around the crucial importance of vaccination in mitigating the severity of SARS-CoV-2 disease.

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