Associations between socioeconomic parameters and outcomes related to hospitalization with COVID-19.

Background: Ongoing symptoms after covid-19 are well known. Several factors are suspected to influence the occurrence and intensity of ongoing symptoms. Aims and objectives: To investigate outcomes from hospitalization and long-term follow-up in relation to socioeconomic factors. Methods: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were invited for follow-up 12 months after discharge. Patients were stratified by subjective social standing, education level and annual household income. As outcome measures from hospitalization, we assessed length of admission, hospitalizations without oxygen therapy, and need of invasive mechanical ventilation. At follow-up, assessment included number of ongoing symptoms, Fatigue Assessment Score and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance or Kruskal-Wallis rank test and logistic regression as appropriate. Results: A total of 153 patients reported socioeconomics outcomes. Mean age was 60 years (SD ± 13 years), 55% male. Neither education level nor annual household income was associated to outcomes from hospitalization or 12-month follow-up. Subjective social standing was not associated to outcomes from hospitalization, but at 12-month follow-up, subjective social standing was associated to the number of ongoing symptoms (p=0.01), Fatigue Assessment Score (p<0.01) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (p<0.01). Conclusions: Subjective social standing was associated long-term outcomes 12 months after hospitalization with COVID-19.