The "Virology Journal" published a retrospective observational study conducted by De Paepe and colleagues, which compared patient characteristics, clinical management and outcomes of Belgian COVID-19 patients across three epidemic waves from 2020 to 2021.

Clinical data from 722 hospitalized adults were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors. The results indicated that patients in the second wave were older and had more comorbidities. Over time, the use of corticosteroids and high-flow oxygen therapy increased. Despite the rising number of complications, mortality rates decreased across the waves. Notably, C-reactive protein levels above 150 mg/L were identified as a significant predictor of ICU admission. The study concluded that advancements in patient management, particularly the increased use of high-flow oxygen therapy and corticosteroids, contributed to improved survival rates, even as the number of patient comorbidities increased.

The full article is available via https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12985-024-02360-8