Impact of COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Variability in ICU Hospitalized Patients With Severe Disease

Background:The impact of the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the severity and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 is controversial. Whether virological characteristics including the mutational patterns of the different viral proteins (e.g., Spike, NSP proteins, ORF6) could be associated with a different immune response and subsequent severity of the disease is unknown. ln the next coming months, new variants carrying the same or new mutational patterns will continue to emerge. Monitoring their dynamics over time and their impact on disease severity is required for refining national and international disease control policies. Main objective: To unravel the relationships between specific viral mutations/mutational patterns and the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs) for acute respiratory failure following severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Design of the study Prospective multicentre observational cohort study Schedule for the study: Inclusion period: 24 months; Participation period: 28 days ; Total duration : 24 months + 28 days;