Deep phenotyping of 34,128 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 and a comparison with 81,596 influenza patients in America, Europe and Asia: an international network study
Authors: Burn Edward , You Seng Chan , Sena Anthony G. , Kostka Kristin , Abedtash Hamed , Abrahão Maria Tereza F. , Alberga Amanda , Alghoul Heba , Alser Osaid , Alshammari Thamir M , Aragon Maria , Areia Carlos , Banda Juan M. , Cho Jaehyeong , Culhane Aedin C , Davydov Alexander , DeFalco Frank J , Duarte-Salles Talita , DuVall Scott , Falconer Thomas , Fernandez-Bertolin Sergio , Gao Weihua , Golozar Asieh , Hardin Jill , Hripcsak George , Huser Vojtech , Jeon Hokyun , Jing Yonghua , Jung Chi Young , Kaas-Hansen Benjamin Skov , Kaduk Denys , Kent Seamus , Kim Yeesuk , Kolovos Spyros , Lane Jennifer C.E. , Lee Hyejin , Lynch Kristine E , Makadia Rupa , Matheny Michael E. , Mehta Paras P. , Morales Daniel R , Natarajan Karthik , Nyberg Fredrik , Ostropolets Anna , Park Rae Woong , Park Jimyung , Posada Jose D. , Prats-Uribe Albert , Rao Gowtham , Reich Christian , Rho Yeunsook , Rijnbeek Peter , Schilling Lisa M. , Schuemie Martijn , Shah Nigam H. , Shoaibi Azza , Song Seokyoung , Spotnitz Matthew , Suchard Marc A. , Swerdel Joel N. , Vizcaya David , Volpe Salvatore , Wen Haini , Williams Andrew E. , Yimer Belay B. , Zhang Lin , Zhuk Oleg , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel , Ryan Patrick 
Published: April 2020

Background

In this study we phenotyped individuals hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in depth, summarising entire medical histories, including medications, as captured in routinely collected data drawn from databases across three continents. We then compared individuals hospitalised with COVID-19 to those previously hospitalised with influenza.

Methods

We report demographics, previously recorded conditions and medication use of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the US (Columbia University Irving Medical Center [CUIMC], Premier Healthcare Database [PHD], UCHealth System Health Data Compass Database [UC HDC], and the Department of Veterans Affairs [VA OMOP]), in South Korea (Health Insurance Review & Assessment [HIRA]), and Spain (The Information System for Research in Primary Care [SIDIAP] and HM Hospitales [HM]). These patients were then compared with patients hospitalised with influenza in 2014-19.

Results

34,128 (US: 8,362, South Korea: 7,341, Spain: 18,425) individuals hospitalised with COVID-19 were included. Between 4,811 (HM) and 11,643 (CUIMC) unique aggregate characteristics were extracted per patient, with all summarised in an accompanying interactive website (http://evidence.ohdsi.org/Covid19CharacterizationHospitalization/). Patients were majority male in the US (CUIMC: 52%, PHD: 52%, UC HDC: 54%, VA OMOP: 94%,) and Spain (SIDIAP: 54%, HM: 60%), but were predominantly female in South Korea (HIRA: 60%). Age profiles varied across data sources. Prevalence of asthma ranged from 4% to 15%, diabetes from 13% to 43%, and hypertensive disorder from 24% to 70% across data sources. Between 14% and 33% were taking drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system in the 30 days prior to hospitalisation. Compared to 81,596 individuals hospitalised with influenza in 2014-19, patients admitted with COVID-19 were more typically male, younger, and healthier, with fewer comorbidities and lower medication use.

Conclusions

We provide a detailed characterisation of patients hospitalised with COVID-19. Protecting groups known to be vulnerable to influenza is a useful starting point to minimize the number of hospital admissions needed for COVID-19. However, such strategies will also likely need to be broadened so as to reflect the particular characteristics of individuals hospitalised with COVID-19.