Impact of COVID-19 on immunocompromised populations during the Omicron era: insights from the observational population-based INFORM study

Rachael A. Evans, Sabada Dube, Yi Lu, Mark Yates, Sofie Arnetorp, Eleanor Barnes, Samira Bell, Lucy Carty, Kathryn Evans, Sophie Graham, Nahila Justo, Paul Moss, Sudhir Venkatesan, Renata Yokota, Catia Ferreira, Richard McNulty, Sylvia Taylor, Jennifer K. Quint (Lead / Corresponding author)

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Abstract

Background: Immunocompromised individuals are not optimally protected by COVID-19 vaccines and potentially require additional preventive interventions to mitigate the risk of severe COVID-19. We aimed to characterise and describe the risk of severe COVID-19 across immunocompromised groups as the pandemic began to transition to an endemic phase. Methods: COVID-19-related hospitalisations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and deaths (01/01/2022-31/12/2022) were compared among different groups of immunocompromised individuals vs the general population, using a retrospective cohort design and electronic health data from a random 25% sample of the English population aged ≥12 years (Registration number: ISRCTN53375662). Findings: Overall, immunocompromised individuals accounted for 3.9% of the study population, but 22% (4585/20,910) of COVID-19 hospitalisations, 28% (125/440) of COVID-19 ICU admissions, and 24% (1145/4810) of COVID-19 deaths in 2022. Restricting to those vaccinated with ≥3 doses of COVID-19 vaccine (∼84% of immunocompromised and 51% of the general population), all immunocompromised groups remained at increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, with adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) for hospitalisation ranging from 1.3 to 13.1. At highest risk for COVID-19 hospitalisation were individuals with: solid organ transplant (aIRR 13.1, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 11.2–15.3), moderate to severe primary immunodeficiency (aIRR 9.7, 95% CI 6.3–14.9), stem cell transplant (aIRR 11.0, 95% CI 6.8–17.6), and recent treatment for haematological malignancy (aIRR 10.6, 95% CI 9.5–11.9). Results were similar for COVID-19 ICU admissions and deaths. Interpretation: Immunocompromised individuals continue to be impacted disproportionately by COVID-19 and have an urgent need for additional preventive measures beyond current vaccination programmes. These data can help determine the immunocompromised groups for which targeted prevention strategies may have the highest impact. Funding: This study was funded by AstraZeneca UK.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100747
Number of pages16
JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Europe
Volume35
Early online date13 Oct 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Retrospective studies
  • Immunocompromised
  • Hospitalisation
  • ICU admission
  • Mortality
  • England
  • Epidemiology

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