Preprint: Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection

“Reinfection contributes additional risks of all-cause mortality, hospitalization, and adverse health outcomes in the pulmonary and several extrapulmonary organ systems.”.

We show that compared to people with first infection, reinfection contributes additional risks of all-cause mortality, hospitalization, and adverse health outcomes in the pulmonary and several extrapulmonary organ systems (cardiovascular disorders, coagulation and hematologic disorders, diabetes, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, kidney disorders, mental health disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, and neurologic disorders); the risks were evident in those who were unvaccinated, had 1 shot, or 2 or more shots prior to the second infection; the risks were most pronounced in the acute phase, but persisted in the post-acute phase of reinfection, and most were still evident at 6 months after reinfection.

Compared to non-infected controls, assessment of the cumulative risks of repeated infection showed that the risk and burden increased in a graded fashion according to the number of infections. The constellation of findings show that reinfection adds non-trivial risks of all-cause mortality, hospitalization, and adverse health outcomes in the acute and post-acute phase of the reinfection. Reducing overall burden of death and disease due to SARS-CoV-2 will require strategies for reinfection prevention.

Preprint: Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection

For all those who still believe herd immunity as a concept applies to SARS-CoV-2: It doesn't. We'll be infected again and again, and the data now tell us that the risk of serious long-term effects increases with each infection. Govts need to re-think & find a new & better plan 1/ pic.twitter.com/ZDG0lkoWYD

— Gunhild Alvik Nyborg (@GANyborg) June 21, 2022