In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 17, No. 8 ( 2022-8-17), p. e0271755-
Abstract:
People living in rural regions in the United States face more health challenges than their non-rural counterparts which could put them at additional risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Few studies have examined if rurality is associated with additional mortality risk among those hospitalized for COVID-19. We studied a retrospective cohort of 3,991 people hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infections discharged between March 1 and September 30, 2020 in one of 17 hospitals in North Carolina that collaborate as a clinical data research network. Patient demographics, comorbidities, symptoms and laboratory data were examined. Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations of rurality with a composite outcome of death/hospice discharge. Comorbidities were more common in the rural patient population as were the number of comorbidities per patient. Overall, 505 patients died prior to discharge and 63 patients were discharged to hospice. Among rural patients, 16.5% died or were discharged to hospice vs. 13.3% in the urban cohort resulting in greater odds of death/hospice discharge (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1, 1.6). This estimate decreased minimally when adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, payer, disease comorbidities, presenting oxygen levels and cytokine levels (adjusted model OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0, 1.5). This analysis demonstrated a higher COVID-19 mortality risk among rural residents of NC. Implementing policy changes may mitigate such disparities going forward.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.t003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.t004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.r001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.r002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.r003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.r004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.r005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0271755.r006
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2022
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3
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