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Characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19-Puerto Rico,

Hannah R Volkman1, Janice Pérez-Padilla1, Joshua M Wong1

  • 1U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States of America.

Plos One
|December 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

This study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Puerto Rico found that obesity and diabetes were common. Older adults and those with immune deficiencies faced higher mortality risks.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Hispanic populations globally.
  • Understanding the specific clinical characteristics and risk factors for severe COVID-19 in Puerto Rico is crucial for targeted public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the demographic and clinical features of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Puerto Rico.
  • To identify risk factors associated with poor outcomes, including mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records for 109 hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 across four hospitals in Puerto Rico.
  • Data abstraction focused on patient demographics, underlying conditions, clinical course, interventions, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • The median number of underlying conditions per patient was 3, with obesity and diabetes being most prevalent.
  • Twenty-eight percent of patients required ICU admission, and 18% died during hospitalization.
  • Advanced age (≥65 years) and presence of immune deficiencies were significant risk factors for mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Puerto Rico frequently had multiple comorbidities.
  • Prompt identification and protection of elderly patients and those with immune deficiencies are vital for reducing COVID-19 mortality in this population.

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