Evaluation of BCG Vaccine and Latent Tuberculosis Infection Effect in Patients Diagnosed with COVID-19 Infection
Project no. 21900 · Status: Kapanmış · 2020
Summary
While COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to spread rapidly worldwide, some issues such as the uncertainty of the disease progress, whether intensive care will be needed, and risk classification are still important for clinicians. It is notable that in countries where latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is common and participating in the national BCG vaccination program, the case-fatality rates are relatively low throughout the world. This study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of the BCG vaccine and LTBI status on the course of the disease in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. The patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection who were hospitalized during a period of seven months between May 1st to December 1st, 2020 were investigated by the QFT-Plus test in the blood samples for the presence of LTBI. Demographic, clinical, radiological, laboratory, and follow-up data of the patients were obtained from the electronic patient file.For the study budget, it was included in the BAPSIS Projects Management System, and a budget of 19,977.28 TL for our research project with the code TGA-2020-21900 was accepted.A total of 170 patients (n=98 male [57,6%], n=72 female [43,2%], mean age: 53,5±15,8 years) were enrolled. Twenty-five patients' (25/170 [14,7%]) QFT-plus tests were positive. When the cases with positive QFT-Plus test (n = 25) and the cases with negative QFT-Plus test (n = 145) were compared in terms of disease severity respectively; mild/moderate patients 18/25 (72%) & 108/145 (74,5%), severe patients 7/25 (28%) & 37/145 (25,5%) (p=0,988). If these two groups are compared in terms of the clinical course respectively; the need for intensive care was 6/25 (24%) & 34/145 (23,4%) (p=1.00), oxygen therapy requirement was 13/25 (52%) & 49/145 (33.8%) (p=0.128), and death was 5/25 (20%) & 18/145 (12.4%) (p=0.341). QFT-Plus positivity was 25/170 (14.7%) in patients diagnosed with COVID-19, while in control group 198/496 (39.9%) (OR: 0.259, 95% CI [0.164-0.411], p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the parameters investigated between 82 (48.2%) patients with BCG vaccine and those 88 (51,8%) without BCG vaccine. Although it was not statistically significant in our study, increased oxygen therapy requirement and higher mortality rates in the QFT-Plus positive group were striking. . We believe that the results of our study are remarkably valuable, but more clinical studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between BCG vaccine, LTBI, and COVID 19 infection.