COVID-19 in three waves in a tertiary referral hospital in Belgium: a comparison of patient characteristics, management, and outcome.

Purpose: Few studies have compared patient characteristics, clinical management, and outcome of patients with COVID-19 between the different epidemic waves. In this study, we describe patient characteristics, treatment, and outcome of patients admitted for COVID-19 in the Antwerp University Hospital over the first three epidemic waves of 2020-2021.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of COVID-19 patients in a Belgian tertiary referral hospital.

Exposure to cough aerosols and development of pulmonary COVID-19.

We hypothesized that most patients with severe pulmonary COVID-19 were exposed to cough aerosols. Among patients that were almost 100% certain which person infected them, only 14 out of 38 overall, and 9 out of 25 hospitalized patients requiring supplemental oxygen, were infected by someone who coughed, which did not support our hypothesis. Talking, especially with a loud voice, could be an alternative source generating SARS-CoV-2 aerosols.