Inpatient Hospitalizations for COVID-19 Among Patients With Prader-Willi Syndrome: A National Inpatient Sample...

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Genetics
• Infectious diseases

Background:

• Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder often causing respiratory impairment.
• Previous surveys suggested paradoxically low COVID-19 severity in PWS patients.
• This study investigates COVID-19 outcomes in PWS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and compare COVID-19 hospitalization outcomes between patients with and without Prader-Willi syndrome.
• To identify specific risks and complications associated with COVID-19 in the PWS population.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database for US hospitalizations in 2020-2021.
• Queried for patients with COVID-19 diagnosis.
• Employed Augmented Inverse Propensity Weighting (AIPW) for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• PWS patients (n=295) were younger (median 33 years) and had higher obesity rates (47.5%) than non-PWS patients (n=4,112,400).
• PWS was associated with a 7.43-day longer hospital stay, $80,126 higher charges, and increased odds of mechanical ventilation (OR 1.79) and death (OR 1.67).

Conclusions:

• Prader-Willi syndrome is linked to increased severity of COVID-19 outcomes.
• PWS should be recognized as a risk factor for severe COVID-19.
• Continued protective measures and vaccination are crucial for this vulnerable population.