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Risk Factors for Testing Positive for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in a National United States Healthcare System.
- Source :
- Clinical Infectious Diseases; 11/1/2021, Vol. 73 Issue 9, pe3085-e3094, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Background Identifying risk factors for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection could help health systems improve testing and screening strategies. The aim of this study was to identify demographic factors, comorbid conditions, and symptoms independently associated with testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. Methods This was an observational cross-sectional study at the Veterans Health Administration, including persons tested for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) between 28 February and 14 May 2020. Associations between demographic characteristics, diagnosed comorbid conditions, and documented symptoms with testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 were measured. Results Of 88 747 persons tested, 10 131 (11.4%) were SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive. Positivity was associated with older age (≥80 vs <50 years: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.16 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.97–2.37]), male sex (aOR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.34–1.57]), regional SARS-CoV-2 burden (≥2000 vs <400 cases/million: aOR, 5.43 [95% CI, 4.97–5.93]), urban residence (aOR, 1.78 [95% CI, 1.70–1.87]), black (aOR, 2.15 [95% CI, 2.05–2.26]) or American Indian/Alaska Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (aOR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.05–1.52]) vs white race, and Hispanic ethnicity (aOR, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.40–1.65]). Obesity and diabetes were the only 2 medical conditions associated with testing positive. Documented fevers, chills, cough, and diarrhea were also associated with testing positive. The population attributable fraction of positive tests was highest for geographic location (35.3%), followed by demographic variables (27.1%), symptoms (12.0%), obesity (10.5%), and diabetes (0.4%). Conclusions The majority of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests were attributed to geographic location, demographic characteristics, and obesity, with a minor contribution of chronic comorbid conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- OBESITY complications
DIABETES complications
COVID-19
SCIENTIFIC observation
CONFIDENCE intervals
FEVER
DIARRHEA
CROSS-sectional method
AGE distribution
RURAL conditions
BLACK people
POPULATION geography
RISK assessment
SEX distribution
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
COVID-19 testing
DEMOGRAPHY
ODDS ratio
RESIDENTIAL patterns
METROPOLITAN areas
WHITE people
COMORBIDITY
MEDICAL care of veterans
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10584838
- Volume :
- 73
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Clinical Infectious Diseases
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 153439940
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1624