The increase in Covid-19 cases in Spain is due to the vulnerability of immunocompromised patients.

VALENCIA (SERVIMEDIA). Even though Covid-19 kept its numbers under control in the early months of the year and that the general population became less aware of the risk, Spain saw a rise in infections in May, reaching a rate of 55.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. A fact included in the latest report of the Carlos III Health Institute of the Surveillance System for Acute Respiratory Infections (SIVIRA) in its analysis from May 20 to 26, showing that the number of cases doubled compared to the previous week (27.8).

This increasing trend is also reflected in the figures of most communities, where it is worth highlighting, for example, the situation in the Community of Madrid, where since 20 years 985 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported in people over 60 years of age. on May 26, more than doubling the number of cases (119.9%) from the previous week.

A situation that, although not a cause for alarm, “requires special attention in those most vulnerable patients in whom vaccination has failed due to lack of response,” as the doctor detailed. Javier Castrodesa, Professor at the University of Valladolid and Head of the Preventive Medicine and Public Health Service at the University Teaching Hospital of Valladolid. Currently, about a third of respiratory samples processed by microbiology laboratories test positive for Covid, “without a doubt, this is an important fact that requires vigilance at this time,” he adds.

In particular, the “Acute Respiratory Infections Report” for the week of May 20 to 26 indicates that Castile and León recorded a Covid-19 incidence rate of 68 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, with a higher incidence among people over 75 years of age . This represents a 240% increase from the previous week.

In addition, as Dr. Castrodesa clarifies, at the University Clinical Hospital of Valladolid, the number of patients hospitalized in March and April increased from 7 to 33 in May. In this regard, he emphasizes that “although this is a small number, we want to convey the importance of surveillance in order to be able to correctly assess the situation, since this helps us to recognize the disease more accurately, without minimizing its presence, but also without increasing it “

Javier Castrodesa explains that the most attention is drawn to hospital data “that reflects the greatest impact of this disease.” Among these patients there are “at-risk patients, with weakened immune systems, with serious pathologies (with hematological oncological processes, real or heart transplants…), patients who, if they recover from covid infection, can significantly complicate their Evolutionary life. process”.

These patients, as indicated by the University Hospital of Valladolid, require special monitoring. According to the doctor: “Covid is here, although not on the same scale as it was, and good adaptation to vaccination is strongly recommended for these patients. Both messenger RNA and tailored protein adjuvanted vaccines are now available and can certainly help protect us from this disease. Additionally, if there is no adequate response to a vaccine, or even if there is no response, other alternatives may be considered to protect against possible worsening of disease in immunocompromised patients through other mechanisms of passive immunization using monoclonal antibodies. if it is needed.”