Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

October 20, 2020

Risk for In-Hospital Complications Associated with COVID-19 and Influenza — Veterans Health Administration, United States, October 1, 2018–May 31, 2020

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  • Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 had an in-hospital mortality rate more than 5-fold higher than influenza patients (21% vs 4%), according to retrospective data from a Veterans Health Administration cohort. After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity and underlying comorbidities, COVID-19 patients had 19-fold higher risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome. Risks for exacerbations of asthma and COPD were lower. Non-Hispanic Black and African American patients had a greater risk of developing respiratory, neurologic, and renal complications compared to white patients.

Cates et al. (Oct 20, 2020). Risk for In-Hospital Complications Associated with COVID-19 and Influenza — Veterans Health Administration, United States, October 1, 2018–May 31, 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6942e3