Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Nov 17, 2021
Date Accepted: Oct 13, 2022
Date Submitted to PubMed: Oct 20, 2022
Effect of comorbidities on the infection rate and severity of COVID-19: A nationwide cohort study with propensity score matching
ABSTRACT
Background:
Confirming the relationship between comorbidities and coronavirus infection-19 (COVID-19) is important for efficient use of medical facilities.
Objective:
This study investigated the impact of patient demographics and comorbidities on the infection rate and severity of COVID-19.
Methods:
Data were derived from a Korean nationwide cohort study with propensity score matching. We included 8070 individuals with positive covid-19 test and 12015 controls between January 1, 2020, and May 30, 2020. Outcomes were confirmation of the comorbidities affecting the infection rate and the severity of COVID-19. Endpoints were COVID-19 positivity and severe clinical outcomes of COVID-19 (tracheostomy, continuous renal replacement therapy, intensive care unit admission, ventilator use, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or death).
Results:
In people aged 60 or older, in those insured with Medicaid, and in the disabled, the proportion corresponding to the severe group of patients showed a tendency to increase. The infection rate of COVID-19 was highest in pulmonary disease (adjusted odds ratio 1.88, 95% confidence interval 1.70 to 2.03), and hyperlipidemia (0.73, 0.67 to 0.80) had a lower infection rate. Disease severity was highest in kidney disease (5.59, 2.48 to 12.63), and lower in hyperlipidemia (0.78, 0.60 to 1.00).
Conclusions:
Using propensity matching to reduce statistical bias, we found that most comorbidities increased the infection rate and severity of COVID-19, whereas hyperlipidemia reduced the rate and severity of infection.
Citation
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