As society grapples with the challenges of COVID-19, the pioneering research conducted by the team from Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan on the Incidence of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) stands out.
This severe lung infection, which has been the focus of a few studies in Japan, has been reported internationally to occur in 3.8% to 35% of cases.
The researchers analyzed over 150,000 COVID-19 cases from 2020 to 2021, focusing on about 33,000 patients with severe or critical illnesses.
Among the 33,000 patients studied, COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) occurred in 0.4% to 2.7% of them. Men, older adults, people with respiratory diseases, and those receiving dialysis or blood transfusions were at higher risk. The study found that patients with CAPA had a death rate twice as high.
Dr. Imoto noted that the rates in this study were lower than in other countries, possibly because fewer Japanese facilities focused on treating CAPA in COVID-19 patients.
Early detection and antifungal treatment are crucial, and the researchers hope their findings will improve screening for COVID-19 patients.
The study highlights that COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a serious complication for patients with severe COVID-19 in Japan.
It shows that CAPA occurs in a small percentage of these patients and is linked to higher death rates. Understanding the risk factors for CAPA can help improve care and treatment for those affected by severe COVID-19.
Journal reference:
- Waki Imoto, Yasutaka Ihara, et al., Incidence and risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019-associated pulmonary aspergillosis using administrative claims data. Mycoses. DOI: 10.1111/myc.13773.
