The risk factors and related hospitalizations for cases with positive and negative COVID-19 tests: A case-control study

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for hospitalizations of cases with positive and negative COVID-19 tests. Methods In this case-control study, the case and control groups consisted of 292 COVID-19 patients and 296 non-COVID-19 patients. Patients who referred to a reference laboratory in Tehran (Iran) in March 2020 were selected and interviewed. The patients were contacted by telephone and data were recorded through a questionnaire. Results The sample of this study consisted of 588 patients (349 [59%] females, 239 [41%] males) with a mean age of 42±15. The results of this study showed that comorbidities like diabetes (OR=7.42), hypertension (OR=4.85), asthma and respiratory diseases (OR=5.64) in addition to symptoms including fever (OR=6.67), chills (OR=11.2), anorexia (OR=11.3), dyspnea (OR=4.8), weakness and lethargy (OR=5.7) were the most predictive variables for hospitalization of non-COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, demographical variables like male gender (OR=3.71), high age (>50; OR=3.12), BMI (>25; OR=2.37), travel (OR=2.79), comorbidities including diabetes (OR=5.26), hypertension (OR=3.7) and underlying immunosuppressant patients receiving corticosteroid therapy (OR=3.62) in addition to symptoms like anorexia [OR=2.55] and dyspnea (OR=6.99) tend to increase the risk of hospital admission in COVID-19 patients, suggesting their predictive values for hospitalization of COVID-19 patients. Conclusion Our results indicated that different factors tend to increase the odds of hospital admission in patients with positive and negative COVID-19 tests, suggesting their predictive values for hospitalization.

State-wide genomic epidemiology investigations of COVID-19 in healthcare workers in 2020 Victoria, Australia: Qualitative thematic analysis to provide insights for future pandemic preparedness

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the hospitalisation of large numbers of patients with severe disease, particularly in older age groups. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 Healthcare workers (HCWs) on the frontline have acquired COVID-19 in many different settings, often despite adequate availability and choice of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 To optimise the safety of HCWs and patients, it is critical for hospital infection control teams and, more broadly, healthcare systems to understand the drivers of infections in HCWs, through systematic investigations of the circumstances around these putative transmissions in healthcare settings.…”