Background rates of all-cause mortality, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits among nursing home residents in Ontario, Canada to inform COVID-19 vaccine safety assessments. Issue 37 (31st August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sundaram, Maria; Nasreen, Sharifa; Calzavara, Andrew; He, Siyi; Chung, Hannah; Bronskill, Susan E.; Buchan, Sarah A.; Tadrous, Mina; Tanuseputro, Peter; Wilson, Kumanan; Wilson, Sarah; Kwong, Jeffrey C.
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 39:Issue 37(2021)
• Page Start: 5265
• Page End: 5270
• Publication Date: 2021-08-31
• Subjects: NH nursing home -- COVID-19 coronavirus disease 2019 -- ED emergency department; Long-term care -- Mortality -- Hospitalization -- Baseline rates -- COVID-19 vaccine safety; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.07.060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Highlights: Mortality rates were consistent for Ontario nursing home residents in 2010–2019. Hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits were also consistent. During 2020, increases in mortality and decreases in hospitalization/ED visits were seen. This provides context for assessment of COVID-19 vaccine safety in this population. Abstract: Background: Nursing home (NH) residents are prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination. We report monthly mortality, hospitalizations, and emergency department (ED) visit incidence rates (IRs) during 2010–2020 to provide context for COVID-19 vaccine safety assessments. Methods: We observed outcomes among all NH residents in Ontario using administrative databases. IRs were calculated by month, sex, and age group. Comparisons between months were assessed using one-sample t-tests; comparisons by age and sex were assessed using chi-squared tests. Results: From 2010 to 2019, there were 83, 453 (SD: 652.4) NH residents per month, with an average of 2.3 (SD: 0.28) deaths, 3.1 (SD: 0.16) hospitalizations, and 3.6 (SD: 0.17) ED visits per 100 residents per month. From March to December 2020, mortality IRs were increased, but hospitalization and ED visit IRs were reduced (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We identified consistent monthly mortality, hospitalization, and ED visit IRs during 2010–2019. Marked differences in these rates were observed during 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.