RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 COVID-19 hospital prevalence as a risk factor for mortality: an observational study of a multistate cohort of 62 hospitals
JF BMJ Quality & Safety
JO BMJ Qual Saf
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 45
OP 53
DO 10.1136/bmjqs-2021-013721
VO 31
IS 1
A1 Mohamad Ghazi Fakih
A1 Allison Ottenbacher
A1 Baligh Yehia
A1 Richard Fogel
A1 Collin Miller
A1 Angela Winegar
A1 Christine Jesser
A1 Joseph Cacchione
YR 2022
UL http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/31/1/45.abstract
AB Background The associated mortality with COVID-19 has improved compared with the early pandemic period. The effect of hospital COVID-19 patient prevalence on COVID-19 mortality has not been well studied.Methods We analysed data for adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to 62 hospitals within a multistate health system over 12 months. Mortality was evaluated based on patient demographic and clinical risk factors, COVID-19 hospital prevalence and calendar time period of the admission, using a generalised linear mixed model with site of care as the random effect.Results 38 104 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalised, and during their encounters, the prevalence of COVID-19 averaged 16% of the total hospitalised population. Between March–April 2020 and January–February 2021, COVID-19 mortality declined from 19% to 12% (p<0.001). In the adjusted multivariable analysis, mid and high COVID-19 inpatient prevalence were associated with a 25% and 41% increase in the odds (absolute contribution to probability of death of 2%–3%) of COVID-19 mortality compared with patients with COVID-19 in facilities with low prevalence (<10%), respectively (high prevalence >25%: adjusted OR (AOR) 1.41, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.61; mid-prevalence (10%–25%): AOR 1.25, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.38). Mid and high COVID-19 prevalence accounted for 76% of patient encounters.Conclusions Although inpatient mortality for patients with COVID-19 has sharply declined compared with earlier in the pandemic, higher COVID-19 hospital prevalence remained a common risk factor for COVID-19 mortality. Hospital leaders need to reconsider how we provide support to care for patients in times of increased volume and complexity, such as those experienced during COVID-19 surges.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplemental information. Deidentified participant data are available from the Ascension Data Science Institute team.