ABSTRACT
Background: Inflammation in the initial COVID-19 episode may be associated with post-recovery mortality. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between systemic inflammation in COVID-19 hospitalized adults and mortality after recovery from COVID-19. Methods: An analysis of electronic health records (EHR) for patients from 1 January, 2020 through 31 December, 2021 was performed for a cohort of COVID-19 positive hospitalized adult patients. 1,207 patients were followed for 12 months post COVID-19 episode at one health system. 12-month risk of mortality associated with inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP), was assessed in Cox regressions adjusted for age, sex, race and comorbidities. Analyses evaluated whether steroids prescribed upon discharge were associated with later mortality. Results: Elevated CRP was associated other indicators of severity of the COVID-19 hospitalization including, supplemental oxygen and intravenous dexamethasone. Elevated CRP was associated with an increased mortality risk after recovery from COVID-19. This effect was present for both unadjusted (HR = 1.60; 95% CI 1.18, 2.17) and adjusted analyses (HR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.19, 2.20) when CRP was split into high and low groups at the median. Oral steroid prescriptions at discharge were found to be associated with a lower risk of death post-discharge (adjusted HR = 0.49; 95% CI 0.33, 0.74). Discussion: Hyperinflammation present with severe COVID-19 is associated with an increased mortality risk after hospital discharge. Although suggestive, treatment with anti-inflammatory medications like steroids upon hospital discharge is associated with a decreased post-acute COVID-19 mortality risk.
ABSTRACT
Background: There are concerns regarding post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, but it is unclear whether COVID-19 poses a significant downstream mortality risk. The objective was to determine the relationship between COVID-19 infection and 12-month mortality after recovery from the initial episode of COVID-19 in adult patients. Methods: An analysis of electronic health records (EHR) was performed for a cohort of 13,638 patients, including COVID-19 positive and a comparison group of COVID-19 negative patients, who were followed for 12 months post COVID-19 episode at one health system. Both COVID-19 positive patients and COVID-19 negative patients were PCR validated. COVID-19 positive patients were classified as severe if they were hospitalized within the first 30 days of the date of their initial positive test. The 12-month risk of mortality was assessed in unadjusted Cox regressions and those adjusted for age, sex, race and comorbidities. Separate subgroup analyses were conducted for (a) patients aged 65 and older and (b) those <65 years. Results: Of the 13,638 patients included in this cohort, 178 had severe COVID-19, 246 had mild/moderate COVID-19, and 13,214 were COVID-19 negative. In the cohort, 2,686 died in the 12-month period. The 12-month adjusted all-cause mortality risk was significantly higher for patients with severe COVID-19 compared to both COVID-19 negative patients (HR 2.50; 95% CI 2.02, 3.09) and mild COVID-19 patients (HR 1.87; 95% CI 1.28, 2.74). The vast majority of deaths (79.5%) were for causes other than respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Among patients aged <65 years, the pattern was similar but the mortality risk for patients with severe COVID-19 was increased compared to both COVID-19 negative patients (HR 3.33; 95% CI 2.35, 4.73) and mild COVID-19 patients (HR 2.83; 95% CI 1.59, 5.04). Patients aged 65 and older with severe COVID-19 were also at increased 12-month mortality risk compared to COVID-19 negative patients (HR 2.17; 95% CI 1.66, 2.84) but not mild COVID-19 patients (HR 1.41; 95% CI 0.84, 2.34). Discussion: Patients with a COVID-19 hospitalization were at significantly increased risk for future mortality. In a time when nearly all COVID-19 hospitalizations are preventable this study points to an important and under-investigated sequela of COVID-19 and the corresponding need for prevention.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Reports of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 continue to emerge, but it remains unclear how the severity of a patient's COVID-19 infection affects risk for future hospitalizations for non-COVID-19 problems. METHODS: An analysis of electronic health records (EHR) was performed for a cohort of 10,646 patients who were followed for 6 months post-COVID-19 episode at 1 health system. COVID-19-positive patients were classified as severe if they were hospitalized within the first 30 days of their initial positive test. Assessment of hospitalizations overall and conditions that could be seen as complications of COVID-19 (cardiovascular, respiratory, and clotting diagnoses) was assessed. The 6-month risk of a new hospitalization was assessed in both unadjusted and adjusted Cox regressions. RESULTS: Of the 10,646 patients included in this cohort,114 had severe COVID-19, 211 had mild/moderate COVID-19, and 10,321 were COVID-19 negative. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, there was no significantly increased risk in future hospitalization for any condition for patients who were COVID-19 positive versus those who were COVID-19 negative (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.98-1.74). In adjusted analyses, individuals with severe COVID-19 had an increased risk of hospitalization for potential complications compared with both mild/moderate COVID-19 (HR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.13-4.28) and COVID-19 negative patients (HR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.52-3.30). DISCUSSION: Patients with a severe COVID-19 episode were at greater risk for future hospitalizations. This study reinforces the importance of preventing infection in patients at higher risk for severe COVID-19 cases.