A recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) VISION Network has revealed that adults hospitalized with COVID-19 are at a higher risk for critical outcomes if they have at least four disease risk factors, regardless of their vaccination status. The study examined the characteristics of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 from June 2021 to March 2023 and identified the risk factors associated with intensive care unit (ICU) admission and in-hospital death.
The study found that older adults hospitalized for COVID-19 often had four or more disease risk factors, suggesting that overall frailty may play a significant role in determining susceptibility to critical disease, regardless of whether the individual is vaccinated or not. The majority of hospitalizations resulting in ICU admission or death were among patients with multiple disease risk factors across various organ systems. These risk factors included hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, obesity, dementia, and other long-term conditions.
The study analyzed data from 60,488 individuals aged 18 or older who were hospitalized with COVID-19 in 10 states. The researchers observed that the proportion of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 experiencing critical outcomes decreased over time, along with their hospital lengths of stay. However, the median age of patients increased from 60 to 75 years during the study period.
According to study co-author Shaun Grannis, the findings provide insight into the factors that influence outcomes for hospitalized patients and can help identify individuals at higher risk. Vaccinated individuals aged 65 or older or with four or more underlying chronic medical conditions were 1.7 times as likely to have a critical outcome, while unvaccinated individuals with the same characteristics were 2.3 times as likely.
While the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations has decreased due to vaccination and natural immunity, the virus continues to infect individuals and cause hospitalizations. The study emphasizes the importance of staying updated on vaccinations and taking precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, especially for individuals who are older or have underlying conditions.
The study, titled “Clinical epidemiology and risk factors for critical outcomes among vaccinated and unvaccinated adults hospitalized with COVID-19—VISION Network, 10 States, June 2021-March 2023,” was published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Sources:
– “Clinical epidemiology and risk factors for critical outcomes among vaccinated and unvaccinated adults hospitalized with COVID-19—VISION Network, 10 States, June 2021-March 2023” – Clinical Infectious Diseases
