Comparison of Demography, Resource Utilization and Outcomes Between the First and Second Covid-19 Wave in a Teaching Hospital in India

Introduction: The novel Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) affected India, predominantly in two time periods – the first wave from March to December 2020, and the second wave began from April 2021 to July 2021. Although the time duration of second wave was shorter than the first, the onslaught of the disease was much more severe during the second wave. Methodology: Demographic, duration of hospitalization, ICU admission, and mortality data of 482 RT-PCR positive COVID-19 individuals were retrospectively analyzed in a teaching hospital in South India. The case file data were compared between the first and second wave. Results: The median age of hospitalisation was 46.2 years and 48.39 years during first and second wave respectively, with male preponderance in second wave. During the second wave, statistically significant difference was found in mean duration of stay (9.04 vs 7.53), mean Spo2 at admission (98.4 vs 96.65), NIV requirement (1.5% vs 8.7%), oxygen requirement(7.4 % vs 13.9%), ICU care, Remedesevir, steroids and enoxaparin. Conclusion: During the second covid wave, significantly higher hospitalisation, intensive care requirements and inpatient mortality was observed. Diabetes and other comorbid conditions had elevated CRP, lymphocytopenia were associated with higher severity and poor outcomes in both waves.