SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01(B.1.1.7) Variant: Is it More Dangerous?

Aim: This study aimed to determine the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients infected with the VOC 202012/01-B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 and to compare these patients with those infected with other variants of SARS-CoV-2, in order to demonstrate the differences.
Patients and Methods: Records of 671 patients with VOC 202012/01 (B.1.1.7)(VOC+) who tested positive in the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, between February 2–11, 2021 in Konya Province, and were found to have the VOC 202012/01 (B.1.1.7), according to variant analysis and 2284 (VOC−) patients who also tested positive in the PCR test between the same dates but did not have the variant (VOC−) were screened in the Public Health Administration System of the Turkish Ministry of Health, on February 24, 2021. Age, gender, hospitalization status, and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) were recorded from the screening results.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between hospitalization status, according to the presence/absence of the variant (p= 0.234). Of the patients who were variant-positive and those who were not, 1.9% and 3.9% were admitted to the ICU, respectively. The rate of admission to the ICU was significantly higher for patients who were not positive for the variant as compared to those who were (p=0.013).
Conclusıons: In the light of the findings of this study, it is possible to state that SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01(B.1.1.7) is not more dangerous in terms of hospitalization and admission to the ICU.