OBJECTIVE
To analyze treatment outcomes in COVID-19 patients unvaccinated and vaccinated with Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) vaccine.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A prospective study included 248 patients vaccinated with two doses of Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) between November 1, 2020 and May 1, 2021 and hospitalized for COVID-19 infection. Mean period between the second dose of vaccine and hospitalization was 78.0±23.0 days. In all cases, positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 was obtained. These patients were included in the 1st group. The control group included 647 unvaccinated patients with comparable lung tissue damage according to chest CT data and positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2.
RESULTS
Lung tissue lesions were similar in both groups at admission according to chest CT and X-ray examination data (p=0.55). After 7 days, unvaccinated patients were characterized by significant progression of lesion (p=0.001) and subsequent slight decrease after 12 days (p=0.02). At the same time, vaccinated patients had significant regression of lung tissue damage (5.4±1.8% at discharge) (p=0.003). All deaths (n=75, 11.6%; p<0.0001) were detected in unvaccinated patients due to progressive multiple organ failure. Among these ones, there were more patients with deep vein thrombosis of the upper (n=36, 5.5%; p=0.0029) and lower (n=74, 11.4%; p=0.0001) extremities, all cases of pulmonary embolism (PE) (n=17, 2.6%; p=0.02) and occlusion of lower limb arteries (n=78, 12%; p<0.0001). Thrombosis of lower limb arteries was accompanied by increment of laboratory inflammatory parameters and coagulopathy with progression of lung tissue lesion up to CT grade 3-4. Moreover, 59 (9.1%) patients developed repeated thrombosis on the first day after successful thrombectomy that required amputation.
CONCLUSION
Vaccination with Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) vaccine will contribute to effective herd immunity against COVID-19, prevent severe course of disease with progression of pneumonia, coagulopathy and inflammatory syndrome. No peripheral arterial thrombosis, PE and lower incidence of different venous thromboses among vaccinated patients are important signs of a milder course of the new coronavirus infection.
