Fever: Common Non-respiratory Feature of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Fever is the most widespread non-respiratory feature of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
P936 - The Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Variants on Non-respiratory Features and Mortality Among Vaccinated and Non-fully Vaccinated Patients

Go to source). The finding held true regardless of which COVID-19 variant patients had, and whether or not they were fully vaccinated or not fully vaccinated.

The study was based on the examination of the University of California Health COVID Research Data Set’s (UC CORDS) medical records of 63,454 patients who had been treated in a University of California medical center for COVID-19. The scientists applied statistical tests to determine the relationship between non-respiratory features, vaccination status and differences in mortality between infection with the Omicron and Delta variants.

Non-Respiratory Symptoms of Patients Infected with COVID-19

“We determined that we would conduct this study because the scientific literature has shown that, although COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, it affects multiple organ systems,” said corresponding author Shannon Cotton, BSN, RN, CCRN, ICU nurse, UC San Diego Health and nursing science PhD student and Behrens Fellow, Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing, UC Irvine. “We wanted to determine which organ systems and features were most affected by the different SARS-CoV-2 variants, which were more likely to lead to death, and the effect of being vaccinated or not fully vaccinated.”

Heart disease was statistically higher in those not fully vaccinated at the time that Omicron was dominant. Specifically, tachycardia—a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute—was found in more individuals not fully vaccinated during the surges of both Omicron and Delta.

In addition, both diabetes and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were features of all variants, regardless of vaccination status.

“Our findings speak to the importance of vaccination as the odds of dying were significantly increased in those not fully vaccinated,” emphasized Ms. Cotton.

Reference:

1. P936 - The Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Variants on Non-respiratory Features and Mortality Among Vaccinated and Non-fully Vaccinated Patients - (https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/10703/presentation/9131)

Source-Eurekalert