COVID-19–Associated Hospitalizations Among U.S. Adults Aged ≥18 Years — COVID-NET, 12 States, October 2023–April 2024
Christopher A. Taylor, Kadam Patel, Huong Pham, Pam Daily Kirley, Breanna Kawasaki, James Meek, Lucy S Witt, Patricia Ryan, Libby Reeg, Kathy Como-Sabetti, Adrienne Domen, Bridget J. Anderson, Sophrena Bushey, Melissa Sutton, H. Keipp Talbot, Emma Mendez, Fiona P. Havers, COVID-NET Surveillance Team, COVID-NET Surveillance Team, Jeremey Roland, Nisha B. Alden, Daewi Kim, Kyle P. Openo, Maya Monroe, Val Tellez Nunez, Erica Bye, Dominic Solhtalab, Grant Barney, Christina B. Felsen, Nasreen Abdullah, William Schaffner, Isabella Reyes
Abstract
Among adults, COVID-19 hospitalization rates increase with age. Data from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network were analyzed to estimate population-based COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates during October 2023-April 2024 and identify demographic and clinical characteristics of adults aged ≥18 years hospitalized with COVID-19. Adults aged ≥65 years accounted for 70% of all adult COVID-19-associated hospitalizations, and their COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates were higher than those among younger adult age groups. Cumulative rates of COVID-19-associated hospitalization during October 2023-April 2024 were the lowest for all adult age groups during an October-April surveillance period since 2020-2021. However, hospitalization rates among all adults aged ≥75 years approached one COVID-19-associated hospitalization for every 100 persons. Among adults hospitalized with COVID-19, 88.1% had not received the 2023-2024 formula COVID-19 vaccine before hospitalization, 80.0% had multiple underlying medical conditions, and 16.6% were residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Guidance for adults at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness, including adults aged ≥65 years and residents of LTCFs, should continue to focus on adopting measures to reduce risk for contracting COVID-19, advocating for receipt of recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, and seeking prompt outpatient antiviral treatment after receipt of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result.