Abstract
The first reported U.S. case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was detected in January 2020 (1). As of June 15, 2020, approximately 2 million cases and 115,000 COVID-19-associated deaths have been reported in the United States.* Reports of U.S. patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection (the virus that causes COVID-19) describe high proportions of older, male, and black persons (2-4). Similarly, when comparing hospitalized patients with catchment area populations or nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients, high proportions have underlying conditions, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or chronic respiratory disease (3,4). For this report, data were abstracted from the medical records of 220 hospitalized and 311 nonhospitalized patients aged ≥18 years with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from six acute care hospitals and associated outpatient clinics in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify patient characteristics associated with hospitalization. The following characteristics were independently associated with hospitalization: age ≥65 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=3.4), black race (aOR=3.2), having diabetes mellitus (aOR=3.1), lack of insurance (aOR=2.8), male sex (aOR=2.4), smoking (aOR=2.3), and obesity (aOR=1.9). Infection with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to severe outcomes, including death, and measures to protect persons from infection, such as staying at home, social distancing (5), and awareness and management of underlying conditions should be emphasized for those at highest risk for hospitalization with COVID-19. Measures that prevent the spread of infection to others, such as wearing cloth face coverings (6), should be used whenever possible to protect groups at high risk. Potential barriers to the ability to adhere to these measures need to be addressed.
Highlights
To reduce severe outcomes from COVID-19, measures to prevent infection with SARS-COV-2 should be emphasized for persons at highest risk for hospitalization with COVID-19
Used to compare hospitalized with nonhospitalized patients; variables included age group, race, sex, smoking status, insurance status, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and chronic kidney disease. These variables were selected based upon risk factors for severe COVID-19 identified in other studies [3,4] rather than a defined statistical endpoint
Diabetes mellitus has been determined to be associated with more severe illness in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 [4] and in persons with illness caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus [9]
Summary
Characteristics Associated with Hospitalization Among Patients with COVID-19 — Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, March–April 2020. Data were abstracted from the medical records of 220 hospitalized and 311 nonhospitalized patients aged ≥18 years with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from six acute care hospitals and associated outpatient clinics in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. During April 8–May 1, trained personnel abstracted information from electronic medical records on patient demographics, occupation, underlying conditions, and symptoms using REDCap software (version 8.8.0; Vanderbilt University) [7] This investigation was determined by CDC to be public health surveillance and by the Georgia Department of Public Health as an institutional review board–exempt public health evaluation. Other symptomatic persons could receive outpatient SARS-CoV-2 testing; testing was limited, and appointments were prioritized for health care personnel and persons considered to be at higher risk for severe COVID-19–associated illness (e.g., persons aged ≥65 years and those with underlying conditions, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory disease).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
