Characterization of in-hospital complications associated with COVID-19 using the ISARIC WHO clinical characterization protocol UK: a prospective multicenter cohort study

Publication date: July 17, 2021 DOI: https : //doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00799-6

Commentary

This study characterizes the extent and impact of complications in the context of the high likelihood of in-hospital complications after COVID-19 onset.

A prospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in 302 healthcare facilities in the United Kingdom.

Subjects included adult patients aged 19 years and older with confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results of the study were available from January 17 to August 4, 2020, and 80,388 patients were included in the study.

Of the hospitalized patients, 49.7% were found to have at least one complication.

The average age of the participants was 71.1 years, 56.0% were male, and 81.0% of the patients had at least one comorbidity. Male patients, or those over 60 years of age, were most likely to have complications, with renal, respiratory, and systemic complications being the most identified. The next most common were cardiovascular and neurological. This analysis showed that complications and poor functional outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were high, even in younger, previously healthy individuals.

In addition, acute complications are associated with poorer ability to self-care at discharge, and neurological complications are associated with the worst functional outcomes. Thus, the complications of COVID-19 may place a considerable burden on health and social care in the coming years.