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Third wave Australia’s biggest virus killer

The findings reinforce the need for adequate resources for ICUs, especially in times of high demand.

The findings reinforce the need for adequate resources for ICUs, especially in times of high demand. Photo: Getty

Four times as many COVID-19 patients were admitted to intensive care during Australia’s third wave of the virus than in the first two combined, research suggests.

A higher proportion of those taken ill between late June and the beginning of November last year required ventilation and, ultimately, a higher percentage of them died.

The in-hospital mortality study was undertaken by Monash University in conjunction with the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society.

Demographic and clinical features were compared along with management of and outcomes for ICU virus patients during all three pandemic waves.

Data was collected from 78 hospitals and 2493 patients admitted to 59 intensive care units in total.

Some 214, or 9 per cent, entered care during early 2020. A further 296, or 12 per cent, were admitted between July 2020 and late June last year and 1983, or 80 per cent, during the third wave between then and November.

The proportion without co-existing illnesses was largest during the third wave at 41 per cent, compared to 32 per cent for the first and 29 per cent for the second.

Similarly, more than 19 per cent of total ICU beds were taken up by COVID patients during the third wave, while less than 3 per cent were during the first and just under 5 per cent during the second.

Ventilation was also most used during the final wave.

Thirty patients (14 per cent), died in hospital during the first wave, 35 (12 per cent) in the second and 281 (17 per cent) during the third.

“After adjusting for age, illness severity, and other co-variates, the risk of in-hospital mortality was similar for the first and second waves but 9.60 percentage points higher during the third than the first wave,” the researchers concluded.

As the Delta variant was more virulent than earlier strains and therefore more likely to require intensive care, they suggested this was one explanation for their findings.

“It was also more transmissible and more likely to cause serious disease in younger people than previous strains that had been greater threats for people over 60 years of age,” study leader Dr Husna Begum said.

“We found the median age of patients declined across the three waves, as did the proportion with multiple other medical conditions.

“The findings reinforce the need to provide adequate resources and support for ICUs, particularly during times of unusually high demand,” Dr Begum said.

There were almost 50,000 COVID-19 cases and 82 deaths across Australia over the weekend.

There are about 227,000 active cases nationwide, the highest mark since June 7. There are also over 3100 patients in hospital care, the most in five weeks.

Australia’s latest 24-hour COVID data

NSW: 6862 cases, 11 deaths, 1507 in hospital, 55 in ICU

Victoria: 6305 cases, one death, 459 in hospital, 26 in ICU

Queensland: 3260 cases, no deaths, 542 in hospital, eight in ICU

Tasmania: 798 cases, no deaths, 45 in hospital, three in ICU

Northern Territory: 209 cases, no deaths, 17 in hospital with one in ICU

Western Australia: 3434 cases, five deaths, 234 in hospital with eight in ICU

South Australia: 2137 cases, six deaths, 210 in hospital with nine in ICU

-AAP

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