several factors that contribute to more severe illness in COVID-19 patients.
Gender seemed to matter: Most of the patients were male, and the median age was 63. The death rate was higher for males than females.
The researchers also found that high blood pressure (57%), obesity (41%) and diabetes (34%) were the most common types of co-existing health problems in COVID-19 patients.
Patients with diabetes were more likely to receive invasive mechanical ventilation, receive treatment in the ICU, or develop acute kidney disease, the findings showed.
Of the patients whose outcomes were known, 14% were treated in the ICU, 12% required invasive mechanical ventilation, and 3% received kidney replacement therapy.
When initially assessed, about one-third of patients had a fever, nearly a thousand had a high respiratory rate, and almost 1,600 received supplemental oxygen. On average, patients were discharged after four days.
The study, published online April 22 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, was conducted by the Northwell Health COVID-19 Research Consortium, with support from the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research.
“New York has become the epicenter of this epidemic. Clinicians, scientists, statisticians and laboratory professionals are working tirelessly to provide best care and comfort to the thousands of COVID-19 patients in our Northwell hospitals,” said Karina Davidson, professor and senior vice president at the Feinstein Institutes.
“Through our consortium, we will share our clinical and scientific insights as we evolve the ways to care for and treat COVID-19 patients,” Davidson noted.
Tracey added that “these observational studies and other randomized clinical trial results from the Feinstein Institutes will improve the care for others confronting COVID outbreaks.”