COVID-19: Northeast Ohio university study affirms omicron variant is milder than delta
New research from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland affirms what some other international studies have shown: the COVID-19 omicron variant is milder than the delta variant, resulting in significantly less severe illness.
The new study is the first completed in the U.S. on the omicron variant, according to Case. It is also the first to control for pre-existing medical conditions and demographics and also includes data from pediatric patients, the university said.
Researchers analyzed data from those who contracted COVID between September and December 2021, including more than 14,000 people who were infected with the omicron variant at the end of December. This data was compared to those who were infected with the delta variant in the fall.
Findings show that first-time COVID-19 infections from the omicron variant are associated with significantly less severe outcomes in comparison to first-time infections from the delta variant.
The risk of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission and emergency room visits is significantly lower in those infected with the omicron variant of the coronavirus, the study concluded.
The study, titled "Comparison of outcomes from COVID infection in pediatric and adult patients before and after the emergence of Omicron" has not yet been published in a medical journal or peer-reviewed. It can be seen at https://tinyurl.com/yy5nw65m.
Beacon Journal staff reporter Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her @blinfisherABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/BettyLinFisherABJ. To see her most recent stories and columns, go to www.tinyurl.com/bettylinfisher.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Case Western study affirms omicron COVID variant is milder than delta
