Partial COVID-19 vaccination tied to decreased postop mortality, infection

Editor's Note

This study from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, finds that full and partial COVID-19 vaccination reduced postoperative complications.

Researchers analyzed data from patients having surgery at 1,283 VA medical facilities nationwide. Of 87,073 surgical patients, 20% were fully vaccinated, 15% were partially vaccinated, and 65% were unvaccinated.

Among the findings:

• Mortality was reduced in fully vaccinated vs unvaccinated (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR] 0.77) and partially vaccinated vs unvaccinated (IRR 0.75).
• Postoperative COVID-19 infection was reduced in fully vaccinated (IRR 0.18) and partially vaccinated (IRR 0.34) patients.
• Fully vaccinated vs partially vaccinated patients had similar postoperative mortality (IRR 1.02)), but had decreased COVID-19 infection (IRR 0.53), pneumonia (IRR 0.75), and pulmonary failure (IRR 0.79).

Results show the importance of any degree of vaccination before surgery, the researchers say.