Clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in a community hospital: A retrospective cohort study

Rodriguez-Nava, Guillermo; Yanez-Bello, Maria Adriana; Trelles-Garcia, Daniela Patricia; Chung, Chul Won; Chaudry, Sana; Khan, Aimen S.; Friedman, Harvey J.; Hines, David W.

Objective To describe the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors for death in patients with COVID-19 in a community hospital setting. Patients and methods Single-center retrospective cohort study that included 313 adult patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to a community hospital in Cook County, Illinois, from March 1, 2020, to May 25, 2020. Demographics, medical history, underlying comorbidities, symptoms, signs, laboratory findings, imaging studies, management, and progression to discharge or death data were collected and analyzed. Results Of 313 patients, the median age was 68 years (interquartile range 59.0 – 78.5; range 19 – 98 years), 182 (58.1%) were males, 119 (38%) were Caucasian, and 194 (62%) were admitted from a Long-Term Care Facility (LTCF). As of May 25, 2020, 212 (67.7%) survivors were identified, whereas 101 (32.3%) non-survivors were identified. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed increasing hazards of inpatient mortality associated with older age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02; 95% CI 1.01 - 1.04), LTCF residence (HR 3.23; 95% CI1.68 - 6.20), and quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) scores (HR 2.59; 95% CI1.78 - 3.76). Conclusions In this single-center retrospective cohort study of 313 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 illness in a community hospital in Cook County, Illinois, older patients, LTCF residents, and patients with high qSOFA scores were found to have worse clinical outcomes and increased risk of death.