Effects of a major deletion in the SARS-CoV-2 genome on the severity of infection and the inflammatory response: an observational cohort study
Barnaby E Young, MB BChir †
Siew-Wai Fong, PhD †
Yi-Hao Chan, PhD †
Tze-Minn Mak, PhD
Li Wei Ang, MSc
Danielle E Anderson, PhD
et al.
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Published:August 18, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31757-8
Summary
Background
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with a 382-nucleotide deletion (?382) in the open reading frame 8 (ORF8) region of the genome have been detected in Singapore and other countries. We investigated the effect of this deletion on the clinical features of infection.
Methods
We retrospectively identified patients who had been screened for the ?382 variant and recruited to the PROTECT study—a prospective observational cohort study conducted at seven public hospitals in Singapore. We collected clinical, laboratory, and radiological data from patients' electronic medical records and serial blood and respiratory samples taken during hospitalisation and after discharge. Individuals infected with the ?382 variant were compared with those infected with wild-type SARS-CoV-2. Exact logistic regression was used to examine the association between the infection groups and the development of hypoxia requiring supplemental oxygen (an indicator of severe COVID-19, the primary endpoint). Follow-up for the study's primary endpoint is completed.
