COVID-19 Patients Found 'No Worse Than Influenza Cases'

A new press statement by Columbia University in New York on October 6, 2020, found patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were more likely male, younger, and, in both the US and Spain, had fewer comorbidities and lower medication use than hospitalized influenza patients, according to a recent study published by the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics community.

The co-lead author Dr. Edward Burn stated in this press release: "Despite recent discourse around the supposed poor health and limited life expectancy of COVID-19 patients, we see COVID-19 patients to be in no worse health than those typically hospitalized with influenza."

And, 'while protecting groups vulnerable to influenza is likely a useful starting point in the response to COVID-19, strategies will likely need to be broadened to reflect the particular characteristics of individuals being hospitalized with COVID-19.'