Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
To create and validate a methodology to assign a severity level to an episode of COVID-19 for retrospective analysis in claims data. Data Source
Secondary data obtained by license agreement from Optum provided claims records nationally for 19,761,754 persons, of which, 692,094 persons had COVID-19 in 2020. Study Design
The World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Progression Scale was used as a model to identify endpoints as measures of episode severity within claims data. Endpoints used included symptoms, respiratory status, progression to levels of treatment and mortality. Data Collection/Extraction methods
The strategy for identification of cases relied upon the February 2020 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Principal Findings
A total of 709,846 persons (3.6%) met the criteria for one of the nine severity levels based on diagnosis codes with 692,094 having confirmatory diagnoses. The rates for each level varied considerably by age groups, with the older age groups reaching higher severity levels at a higher rate. Mean and median costs increased as severity level increased. Statistical validation of the severity scales revealed that the rates for each level varied considerably by age group, with the older ages reaching higher severity levels (p < 0.001). Other demographic factors such as race and ethnicity, geographic region, and comorbidity count had statistically significant associations with severity level of COVID-19. Conclusion
A standardized severity scale for use with claims data will allow researchers to evaluate episodes so that analyses can be conducted on the processes of intervention, effectiveness, efficiencies, costs and outcomes related to COVID-19. Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-023-09362-2. Highlights A novel COVID-19 severity scale is developed for researchers who use claims data. Costs increase with severity of COVID-19 episodes. Demographic factors such as age, race, geographic region, and comorbidity count had statistically significant associations with severity level of COVID-19. Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-023-09362-2.
SUBMITTER: Krause T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10131339 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature