Risk Factors and Disease Profile Associated with the Nucleic Acid Conversion Time of COVID-19 Patients Infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Fangcang Shelter Hospitals

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the clinical profile connected to the nucleic acid conversion time of COVID-19 patients harboring the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant at the hospitals at the Fangcang shelter. METHODS: We reported 39,584 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in Shanghai, China, between April 5 and May 5, 2022, and who had contracted the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2. Demographic data, medical and vaccination history, clinical symptoms, and NCT were reported for the patient. RESULTS: The median age of the patients with COVID-19 included in this study was 45 (interquartile range [IQR]: 33–54), and 64.2% of them were male. The two most prevalent comorbidities among the patients were hypertension and diabetes. Additionally, we discovered that the percentage of unimmunized patients was negligible (13.2%). We found that male sex, age under 60, and other comorbidities including hypertension and diabetes are significant risk factors for extending NCT when we analyzed the risk variables for NCT. We discovered that vaccination with two or more doses can significantly reduce NCT. The analysis of the young (18–59 years) and older (60 years) populations produced the same outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm that a full COVID-19 vaccine series or booster doses are highly recommended to significantly reduce NCT. In order to reduce NCT, it is also advised that elderly people who have no clear contraindications take vaccination shots.