J Community Health . The Epidemiology and Predictors of Outcomes Among Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in a Large Community Healthcare System in South Florida

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J Community Health


. 2021 Jan 7.
doi: 10.1007/s10900-020-00957-y. Online ahead of print.
The Epidemiology and Predictors of Outcomes Among Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in a Large Community Healthcare System in South Florida


Shenae Samuels ¹ , Jianli Niu ¹ , Candice Sareli ¹ , Paula Eckardt ²



Affiliations

• PMID: 33409769
• DOI: 10.1007/s10900-020-00957-y

Abstract

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to be a major public health concern. The aim of this study was to describe the presenting characteristics, epidemiology and predictors of outcomes among confirmed COVID-19 cases seen at a large community healthcare system which serves the epicenter and diverse region of Florida. We conducted a retrospective analysis of individuals with lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who were seen, from March 2, 2020 to May 31, 2020, at Memorial Healthcare System in South Florida. Data was extracted from a COVID-19 registry of patients with lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Univariate and backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine predictors of key study outcomes. There were a total of 1692 confirmed COVID-19 patients included in this study. Increasing age was found to be a significant predictor of hospitalization, 30-day readmission and death. Having a temperature of 38 ?C or more and increasing comorbidity score were also associated with an increased risk of hospitalization. Significant predictors of ICU admission included having a saturated oxygen level less than 90%, hypertension, dementia, rheumatologic disease, having a respiratory rate greater than 24 breaths per minute. Being of Hispanic ethnicity and immunosuppressant utilization greatly increased the risk of 30-day readmission. Having an oxygen saturation less than 90% and an underlying neurological disorder were associated with an increased likelihood of death. Results show that a patient's demographic, underlying condition and vitals at triage may increase or reduce their risk of hospitalization, ICU admission, 30-day readmission or death.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Infectious disease; Outcomes; Racial/ethnic disparities; SARS-CoV-2.