Large US study confirms COVID-19 complications

Editor's Note

This large US study of patients who contracted COVID-19 confirms and provides risk estimates for numerous complications of the disease.

Using US health claims data of 70,288 patients who had a COVID-19-related healthcare visit between March 1 and April 30, 2020, researchers found that 53.4% were admitted to the hospital and 4.7% were admitted to the ICU. The median age of patients was 65 years, and 55.8% were female.

The most common COVID-19 complications and the absolute risk of a COVID-19 patient having these complications was:

• 27.6% for viral pneumonia
• 22.6% for respiratory failure
• 11.8% for acute kidney failure
• 10.4% for sepsis.

The lead researchers from the Jacobs School of Medicine & Biological Sciences, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, also found associations with other lung and cardiovascular conditions, such as myocarditis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and pneumothorax.

The study results may be used to guide prognosis, treatment decisions, and patient counseling, the researchers say.