Characteristics and Outcomes of Adults Hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Louisville, Kentucky

Background: Patients infected with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are frequently hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The objective of this study was to define the clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP in the city of Louisville, KY. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of 700 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalized to eight of the adult hospitals in the city of Louisville. Patients with 1) a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2, 2) fever, cough, or shortness of breath, and 3) an infiltrate at chest imaging were defined as having SARS-CoV-2 CAP. Demographic characteristics of the study population were compared with census data from the city of Louisville. For each patient more than 500 variables were abstracted from electronic medical records and recorded using Research Electronic Data Capture software. Data was analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using R version 3.4.0. Results: SARS-CoV-2 CAP was identified in 632 (90%) patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The median age of the patients was 63 years, 53% were females, 31% were black and 12% Hispanic. The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (56%), obesity (50%), and diabetes (33%). Mortality was 17% for the total population and 34% for the 249 patients admitted to ICU. For each category of race, ethnicity and comorbidities, the proportion of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP was significantly different when compared to the Louisville population (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients of black race, Hispanic ethnicity, and patients with history of hypertension, obesity or diabetes are overrepresented among hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP when compared to the Louisville population. Hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 CAP are likely to require ICU care, with death occurring in approximately one of six hospitalizations.