PARIS, Dec 18, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Roughly a year into the pandemic it is
clear the new coronavirus is worse than seasonal flu, and a study released on
Friday outlined just how much worse, showing a death rate almost three times
higher among Covid-19 patients.
The research, using French national data and published in the journal The
Lancet Respiratory Medicine, underscored the increased severity of illness
for people with Covid-19.
Researchers compared data for 89,530 patients hospitalised with Covid-19 in
March and April this year with 45,819 patients hospitalised with seasonal
influenza between December 2018 and the end of February 2019.
Some 16.9 percent of Covid-19 patients died during the period of study —
which was during a devastating first wave across Europe when doctors had few
therapies to turn to for severely ill people.
This compares to a death rate of 5.8 percent among those with influenza.
Catherine Quantin, a professor at the University Hospital of Dijon and the
French national health institute INSERM who jointly led the study, said the
difference in death rates was “particularly striking” given the 2018/19 flu
season was the deadliest France had seen in five years.
The authors note that the difference in the number of hospitalisations —
which saw twice as many people admitted for Covid-19 than flu — may be
partly explained by existing immunity to influenza, either because of
previous infection or vaccination.
Researchers found that more patients with Covid-19 needed intensive care —
16.3 percent compared with 10.8 percent for influenza — while the average
stay in ICU was nearly twice as long (15 days compared to 8 days).
The study also reported far fewer children under 18 hospitalised with
Covid-19 than with flu — 1.4 percent compared to 19.5 percent.