A recent study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases has revealed that SARS-CoV-2 caused a 21% excess of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) during the winter of 2022-23. The research was conducted through an online survey about ARIs sent to 70,000 registered participants in a digital health study in March 2023. Out of 37,708 participants who responded to the survey, 54,813 ARIs were reported, with 9,358 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 through either at-home or clinical tests.
The study found that the highest incidence of all ARIs occurred in December 2022, with 26 infections per 100 people. Adults aged 30 to 39 experienced the highest cumulative incidence, with 208 infections per 100 people over the 7-month period. The authors emphasized the need for decision-makers to recognize and address this burden by implementing new strategies, potentially focusing on vaccinations to reduce infection rates.
While the risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infections may be lower due to population immunity, the study predicts a higher burden of ARIs compared to pre-pandemic levels. The authors caution that even without the emergence of new variants, the additional burden of ARIs must be considered, especially in terms of workforce implications. As many individuals in Germany and elsewhere were no longer regularly testing for COVID-19 three years after the start of the pandemic, discrepancies in reporting official results may have occurred. However, this study provides valuable insights into how SARS-CoV-2 continues to impact ARI rates during cold and flu seasons.
