# Burden in Colombia of COVID-19 in Adults and the Associated Clinical Characteristics: A Retrospective Database Analysis

## TL;DR

This study analyzed the impact of COVID-19 in Colombia from March 2020 to January 2023, finding most cases were mild, with severe cases linked to comorbidities and lack of vaccination.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive assessment of the burden of COVID-19 in Colombia over a multi-year period, highlighting the role of comorbidities and vaccination status.

## Key findings

- Most (79%) of the 953,661 cases were mild or moderate, with 20.1% severe and 0.9% critical.
- Unvaccinated individuals (94.6%) and those with comorbidities had higher risks of severe or critical illness.
- Common comorbidities included hypertension, obesity, and cancer, which increased the risk of severe outcomes.

## Abstract

Studies on the burden of COVID-19 cases in Colombia have focused on specific populations and short timeframes. A retrospective observational study was conducted on adult patients aged 18 diagnosed with COVID-19 who received inpatient and/or outpatient medical care at a large health maintenance organization, to evaluate the burden of COVID-19 cases in Colombia (from March 2020 to January 2023) and associations with demographic and clinical characteristics. COVID-19 cases were identified with ICD-10 codes and confirmed by a laboratory test. The statistical analysis focused on descriptors of the frequency of events. A multivariate regression model was used to identify factors associated with severe conditions and death. Of the 953,661 cases detected, most cases (~79%) were mild or moderate (handled as outpatients). There were 20.1% (N = 191,260) severe cases and 0.9% (N = 8841) critical cases. Most COVID patients were unvaccinated (94.6%) and had, on average, one comorbidity. Hypertension (19.1%), immunocompromised condition (23.8%), mental health conditions (15%), obesity (10.8%), and cancer (11.2%) were the common prevalent comorbidities. The presence of comorbidity increased the risk of severe or critical COVID-19. COVID-19 cases were associated with the lack of vaccination and comorbidities. Effective vaccination strategies are needed to reduce the burden of COVID-19 in Colombia and, considering budgetary constraints, it is advisable to prioritize the elderly or populations with underlying conditions.