Two-Dose Vaccination Significantly Prolongs the Duration from Symptom Onset to Death: A Retrospective Study Based on 173,894 SARS-CoV-2 Cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

This research was carried out to quantify the duration from symptom onset to recovery/death (SOR/SOD) during the first four waves and the Alpha/Delta period of the epidemic in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and identify the associated factors. A total of 173,894 COVID-19 cases were admitted between 16 March 2020 and 30 November 2021, including 458 intensive care unit (ICU) cases. The results showed that the case fatality rate (CFR) increased with age, and females had a higher CFR. The median SOR of ICU cases was longer than that of non-ICU cases (27.6 vs. 17.0 days), while the median SOD was much shorter (6.9 vs. 8.4 days). The SOR and SOD in the Delta period were slightly shortened than the Alpha period. Age, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung disease, diabetes, fever, breathing issues, and ICU admission were risk factors that were significantly associated with SOD (p < 0.001). A control measure, in-home quarantine, was found to be significantly associated with longer SOD (odds ratio = 9.49, p < 0.001). Infected vaccinated individuals had longer SOD than unvaccinated individuals, especially for cases that had received two vaccine doses (p < 0.001). Finally, an advice on getting full-dose vaccination is given specifically to individuals aged 20–59 years.

Impact of Comorbidity on the Duration from Symptom Onset to Death in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Retrospective Study of 104,753 Cases in Pakistan

“…The data used in this investigation were acquired from the office of the Directorate General Health Services, KP, Pakistan, which is responsible for the health system at all levels, based on the primary healthcare approach through the district health system, and aims to ensure universal access to quality healthcare in KP Province [11]. Briefly, the dataset included all hospital attendance records reported from all districts of KP Province to the Directorate during the four waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection.…”

“…For example, a systematic review and metaanalysis conducted in 2020 [6] included 25 studies from December 2019 to July 2020, where data regarding 11 pre-existing comorbidities and 65,484 patients with COVID-19 from North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa were analyzed. The results showed that, compared levels, based on the primary healthcare approach through the district health system, and aims to ensure universal access to quality healthcare in KP Province [11]. Briefly, the dataset included all hospital attendance records reported from all districts of KP Province to the Directorate during the four waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection.…”