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Title:COVID-19 Caused by the Omicron Variant in Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Case Series
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  • Li Zhao,
  • Lijuan Guo,
  • Bin Xing,
  • Yi Zhang,
  • Mengyin Chen,
  • Wenhui Chen
Li Zhao
China-Japan Friendship Hospital
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Lijuan Guo
China-Japan Friendship Hospital
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Bin Xing
China-Japan Friendship Hospital
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Yi Zhang
China-Japan Friendship Hospital
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Mengyin Chen
China-Japan Friendship Hospital
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Wenhui Chen
China-Japan Friendship Hospital

Corresponding Author:white_angle_2004@126.com

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Abstract

Background: Limited data are available regarding the infection status, clinical characteristics, treatments and outcomes of lung transplant recipients (LTRs) afflicted with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in China. Methods: We conducted a study on LTRs with COVID-19 caused by the Omicron Variant from November 17, 2022, to May 1, 2023. Clinical information was gathered retrospectively through electronic medical records, questionnaires, or follow-up telephone calls. Results: 178 LTRs with COVID-19 were included, with 50% (89/178) requiring hospitalization for an average stay of 16 days (IQR: 9.5-25.5 days). The most common symptoms were fever (79.8%), dry cough (75.3%) and fatigue (61.8%). Ultimately, 17 recipients succumbed to COVID-19-related respiratory failure or secondary multiple organ dysfunction, resulting in an overall mortality rate of 9.6%. Of the 89 hospitalized patients, 41.6% (37/89) eventually progressed to severe or critical disease, forming the Severe/Critical Group (S/C group), while the remaining 58.4% (52/89) had mild to moderate disease (M/M group). In comparison to the M/M group, the S/C group had higher CRP (59.6 vs. 16.8 mg/L, P<0.01), ESR (45.5 vs. 22.5mm/h, P<0.01) and D-dimer (1.09 vs. 0.65 mg/L, P<0.05), but lower CD3 + T lymphocytes (577 vs. 962 cells/ul, P<0.01) and CD4 + T lymphocytes (217 vs. 427 cells/ul, P<0.01). The S/C group had significantly higher rates of combined pulmonary bacterial infection (67.6% vs. 38.5%, P<0.01) and pulmonary fungal infection (73.0% vs. 38.5%, P<0.01) during the course of COVID-19, nearly double that of the M/M group. In a multivariate logistic analysis, elevated CRP (>41.8mg/L), combined pulmonary fungal infection, and interstitial lung disease(ILD) as primary disease emerged as high-risk factors for developing the severe disease phenotype following Omicron variant infection in LTRs, with respective OR values of 4.23 (95% CI: 1.68-11.23), 4.76 (95% CI: 1.59-15.64), and 5.13 (95% CI: 1.19-29.17). Conclusions: LTRs displayed an increased vulnerability to combined lung bacterial or fungal infections following Omicron infection. CRP> 41.8mg/L, ILD as primary disease, and combined pulmonary fungal infection are high-risk factors for developing severe disease.
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