Factors associated with hospitalisations and deaths of residential aged care residents with COVID‐19 during the Omicron (BA.1) wave in Queensland

OBJECTIVE: To identify characteristics associated with the hospitalisation and death of people with COVID‐19 living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: All confirmed (polymerase chain reaction testing) or probable SARS‐CoV‐2 infections (rapid antigen tests) in residents of the 86 RACFs in the Metro South Hospital and Health Service area (southeast Queensland), 13 December 2021 – 24 January 2022. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hospitalisation within 14 days or death within 28 days of COVID‐19 diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 1071 RACF residents with COVID‐19, 151 were hospitalised within 14 days and 126 died within 28 days of diagnosis. Likelihood of death increased with age (per five years: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–1.57), but not that of hospitalisation. Men were more likely to be hospitalised (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2–2.4) or die (aOR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.7–3.6) than women. The likelihood of hospitalisation was greater for those with dementia (aOR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2–3.0), heart failure (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1–2.7), chronic kidney disease (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1–2.5), or asthma (aOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2–3.8). The likelihood of death was greater for residents with dementia (aOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3–3.7), diabetes mellitus (aOR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.3–3.0), heart failure (aOR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1–3.3), or chronic lung disease (aOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1–2.7). The likelihood of hospitalisation and death were each higher for residents who had received two or fewer vaccine doses than for those who had received three doses. CONCLUSIONS: Most characteristics that influenced the likelihood of hospitalisation or death of RACF residents with COVID‐19 were non‐modifiable factors linked with frailty and general health status. Having received three COVID‐19 vaccine doses was associated with much lower likelihood of hospitalisation or death.