Introduction: The coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic has presented worldwide as multiple waves of infection. India has witnessed three waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we have evaluated and compared the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic presented in North India.
Objective: To compare the demography, clinical profile, and outcomes of COVID-infected patients during the first, second, and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and methods: Retrospective collection of demographic details, epidemiology, clinical presentations, outcomes, and follow-up reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results of COVID-19-positive patients were correlated.
Results: Retrospective analysis of data showed that positivity in COVID waves was higher during the second wave (10%), followed by the third wave (4.66%), and the first wave (2.95%). The history of the number of household contacts was comparatively higher during the second wave. Atypical presentations and mortality were also notably higher during the second wave (24.69%) than the first wave (14.7%) and third wave (8.6%).
Conclusion: Emerging COVID variants due to mutation will lead to multiple waves until it becomes endemic.
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