Analysis of Potential Risk Factors of COVID-19 Based on Variants: Omicron, Delta, and Alpha

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed which affects the risk of COVID-19 infection for specific subgroups. We focused on the subgroups based on the factors (sex, age, and vaccination) and COVID-19 strains (Alpha, Delta, and Omicron). Past studies focused on analyzing these factors based on one geographic region or one COVID-19 strain. Therefore, there is a need to understand these factors’ association with risk of COVID-19 infection through analyzing data from various geographic regions and strains. The association between COVID-19 strains and the factors was assessed through chi-square test and odds ratio tests. Sex, vaccination, age had a significant association with testing positive for the COVID-19 strains of interest in most geographies. The biggest difference was unvaccinated individuals have 3.14 higher odds of getting Alpha than vaccinated individuals in Canada. These findings provide insights into the groups that are more susceptible to contracting specific strains of COVID-19.SummaryThis manuscript offers a broad examination of key factors that may impact the risk of COVID-19 infection across various geographic regions. Results provide evidence about potential risk factors for COVID-19 infection around the world for certain sub-groups as COVID-19 mutates.

New variants of COVID‐19 (XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16, the “Arcturus”): A review of highly questioned concerns, a brief comparison between different peaks in the COVID‐19 pandemic, with a focused systematic review on expert recommendations for prevention, vaccination, and treatment measures in the general population and at‐risk groups

“…14 Various subvariants of Omicron, including but not limited to BA.1, BA.5, BQ.1, and XBB.1.5, have been identified and disseminated, contributing to the mainstream subtypes of COVID-19 spreaders. 15 Omicron and its subvariants, solely, are known as the current peak's VOCs and the primary culprit for the latest uptick in cases. 8 Most recently, as of January 2023 and April 2023, the XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 subvariants were announced as variants of interest (VOIs) by WHO, respectively.…”