A recent study conducted in Germany found that SARS-CoV-2 caused a 21% increase in acute respiratory infections (ARIs) during the winter of 2022-23. Published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, the study suggests that COVID-19 will continue to be a significant burden during cold and flu seasons. The study surveyed 70,000 participants in a digital health study, with 37,708 reporting 54,813 ARIs, including 9,358 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections.
According to the study, the highest incidence of ARIs was seen in December 2022, with 26 infections per 100 people. Adults aged 30 to 39 had the highest cumulative incidence, with 208 infections per 100 people over the 7-month period. The authors emphasized the importance of decision-makers understanding the burden of ARIs to implement policies aimed at reducing infection rates, such as vaccination strategies.
Despite the population’s acquired immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the study concluded that the burden of ARIs may be higher than before the pandemic, even without the emergence of new variants. With implications for the workforce in mind, the authors stressed the need to consider this additional burden and adapt policies accordingly.