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Analysis of potential risk factors associated with COVID-19 and hospitalization
Abdul-Hakeem Moazi Alharbi1,2, Syed Imam Rabbani2, Ashraf Abdel Halim Mohamed3,4
1College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Male gender, older age, and unvaccinated status increase COVID-19 hospitalization risk. Identifying these factors aids in developing preventive strategies against severe disease outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses significant health risks, particularly for specific demographic groups.
- Factors such as gender, age, and comorbidities influence COVID-19 severity and hospitalization rates.
- Understanding these risk factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify demographic and clinical predictors associated with COVID-19 hospitalization.
- To determine risk factors for intensive care unit (ICU) admission among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- To inform strategies for reducing COVID-19 complications and hospitalizations.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, cross-sectional observational study analyzed data from a COVID-19 specialty hospital.
- Demographic (age, gender, race, vaccination status) and clinical data (comorbidities, medications) were extracted.
- Statistical analysis, including odds ratio calculations, assessed associations between predictors and hospitalization outcomes (non-ICU and ICU).
Main Results:
- The majority of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were male (>55%), over 60 years old (>40%), and unvaccinated (>71%).
- Male gender, age over 60, unemployment, unvaccinated status, and comorbidities were significantly associated with increased ICU admission risk (Odds Ratio > 2).
- Hypertension and type 2 diabetes, particularly with obesity, were identified as major risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Male gender, age over 60, unvaccinated status, and comorbidities significantly increase the risk of COVID-19 complications and hospitalization, including ICU admission.
- Prednisolone and remdesivir showed potential in reducing ICU admission odds.
- Targeted preventive strategies focusing on identified risk factors are essential to mitigate COVID-19 severity and reduce pandemic impact.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was found to cause complications in certain groups of people, leading to hospitalization. Several factors have been linked to this, such as gender, age, comorbidity, and race. Understanding the precise reasons for the COVID-19-induced complications might help in designing strategies to minimize hospitalization. A retrospective, cross-sectional observational study was conducted for patients in a COVID-19-designated specialty hospital after obtaining ethical clearance. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, such as age, gender, race, vaccinated status, complications, comorbidities, and medications, were retrieved from the hospital medical database. The data were statistically analyzed to determine the association between the predictors and the outcomes of COVID-19. An odds ratio (both unadjusted and adjusted) analysis was carried out to determine the risk factors for hospitalization [non-intensive care (non-ICU) and intensive care (ICU)] due to COVID-19. The data from the study indicated that the majority of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 were male (>55%), aged > 60 years (>40%), married (>80%), and unvaccinated (>71%). The common symptoms, complications, comorbidities, and medications were fever, pneumonia, hypertension, and prednisolone, respectively. Male gender, patients older than 60 years, unemployed, unvaccinated, complicated, and comorbid patients had an odds ratio of more than 2 and were found to be significantly (p < 0.05) higher in ICU admission. In addition, administration of prednisolone and remdesivir was found to significantly reduce (p < 0.05) the odds ratio in ICU patients. The analysis of the data suggested that male gender, age above 60 years, and unvaccinated with comorbidities increased the complications and resulted in hospitalization, including ICU admission. Hypertension and type 2 diabetes associated with obesity as metabolic syndrome could be considered one of the major risk factors. Preventive strategies need to be directed toward these risk factors to reduce the complications, as well as hospitalization to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic.
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