Mortality due to COVID-19 infection: A comparison of first and second waves
Olubunmi Oladunjoye, Molly Gallagher, Tom Wasser, Adeolu Oladunjoye, Susmita Paladugu, Anthony A. Donato
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The USA suffered an initial wave of COVID-19 cases from March to July in 2020. Cases again surged in August 2020 as business restrictions were lifted. We aimed to describe demographic, treatment, and mortality differences between both waves. METHODS: We identified all hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection in one US six-hospital health system between 1 March 2020 and 31 January 2021. We compared data obtained on patient demographics, treatment received, and mortality between first and second waves of the pandemic. RESULTS: < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Mortality in the second wave was lower than the first wave with significantly higher utilization of steroids, remdesivir and convalescent plasma in second wave.