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Factors associated with COVID-19-related death using OpenSAFELY
Elizabeth J Williamson1, Alex J Walker2, Krishnan Bhaskaran1
1London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London, UK.
Nature
|July 9, 2020
Summary
This study identified key risk factors for COVID-19 death, including male sex, older age, and certain medical conditions. Ethnic minority groups, particularly Black and South Asian individuals, faced higher risks even after adjustments.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused significant global mortality.
- Understanding risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes is crucial for public health interventions.
- Timely analysis of large-scale patient data is essential for identifying at-risk populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine factors associated with COVID-19-related death using a secure health analytics platform.
- To identify demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical predictors of mortality in a large adult cohort.
- To provide evidence for targeted public health strategies and clinical management.
Main Methods:
- Utilized OpenSAFELY, a secure health analytics platform covering 40% of England's patients.
- Pseudonymously linked primary care electronic health records of 17,278,392 adults with 10,926 COVID-19-related deaths.
- Employed survival analysis to determine hazard ratios for various risk factors.
Main Results:
- Male sex, increasing age, and deprivation were significantly associated with higher COVID-19 mortality risk.
- Pre-existing conditions including diabetes and severe asthma increased the risk of death.
- Black and South Asian ethnic groups showed a higher risk of COVID-19-related death compared to White individuals, even after adjusting for other factors.
Conclusions:
- Quantified numerous clinical factors linked to COVID-19 mortality in a large cohort study.
- Highlighted significant ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes.
- Emphasized the ongoing expansion of the OpenSAFELY platform for continuous results updates.
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