Analysis Sheds Light on COVID-19-Associated Disease in Japan

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09/23/2024

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The invasive fungal infection pulmonary aspergillosis is caused by the aspergillus fungus and has been known to occur among patients with COVID-19.

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Credit: Yukihiro Kaneko, Osaka Metropolitan University

As society learns to live with COVID-19, research on the disease and its complications remains important. Thus, an Osaka Metropolitan University team has pored through data to understand the incidence in Japan of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), a severe invasive fungal infection of the lungs.

Few studies have been conducted on CAPA in Japan, but reports from overseas put the incidence between 3.8% and 35%.

Using Japanese administrative claims data, Graduate School of Medicine Lecturer Waki Imoto, graduate student Mr. Yasutaka Ihara, Professor Ayumi Shintani, and Professor Hiroshi Kakeya were among the team analyzing CAPA, especially in patients with severe or critical COVID-19. The team studied over 150,000 COVID-19 cases from the full calendar years of 2020 and 2021, and approximately 33,000 patients were in the severe or critical category.

Among these 33,000, CAPA occurred in 0.4% to 2.7% of patients, with men, older adults, the existence of respiratory diseases, and the use of dialysis treatments or blood transfusions as being at higher risk of getting the infection. Statistical analysis also showed the mortality rate was twice as high for patients with CAPA.

“The CAPA incidence rates obtained in this study were lower than those reported overseas. This result may be related to the fact that few facilities in Japan treated COVID-19 patients with CAPA in mind,” stated Dr. Imoto. “Since early detection of CAPA and treatment with antifungal drugs is important, we hope these results will lead to improved screening of COVID-19 patients.”

The findings were published in Mycoses.

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About OMU

Established in Osaka as one of the largest public universities in Japan, Osaka Metropolitan University is committed to shaping the future of society through “Convergence of Knowledge” and the promotion of world-class research. For more research news, visit https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/ and follow us on social media: X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.



Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Incidence and risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019-associated pulmonary aspergillosis using administrative claims data

Article Publication Date

1-Aug-2024

COI Statement

Yasutaka Ihara is an employee of Daiichi Sankyo and has worked for the company since March 2024. Other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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