Comorbid conditions appear to be common among individuals hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but estimates of prevalence vary and little is known about the prior medication use of patients. Here, we describe the characteristics of adults hospitalised with COVID-19 and compare them with influenza patients. We include 34,128 (US: 8362, South Korea: 7341, Spain: 18,425) COVID-19 patients, summarising between 4811 and 11,643 unique aggregate characteristics. COVID-19 patients have been majority male in the US and Spain, but predominantly female in South Korea. Age profiles vary across data sources. Compared to 84,585 individuals hospitalised with influenza in 2014-19, COVID-19 patients have more typically been male, younger, and with fewer comorbidities and lower medication use. 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 hospitalised with COVID-19.

BackgroundHurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey (NJ) on October 29, 2012. We studied the impact of this extreme weather event on the incidence of, and 30‐day mortality from, cardiovascular (CV) events (CVEs), including myocardial infarctions (MI) and strokes, in NJ.Methods and ResultsData were obtained from the MI data acquisition system (MIDAS), a database of all inpatient hospital discharges with CV diagnoses in NJ, including death certificates. Patients were grouped by their county of residence, and each county was categorized as either high‐ (41.5% of the NJ population) or low‐impact area based on data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other sources. We utilized Poisson regression comparing the 2 weeks following Sandy landfall with the same weeks from the 5 previous years. In addition, we used CVE data from the 2 weeks previous in each year as to adjust for yearly changes. In the high‐impact area, MI incidence increased by 22%, compared to previous years (attributable rate ratio [ARR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16, 1.28), with a 31% increase in 30‐day mortality (ARR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.22, 1.41). The incidence of stroke increased by 7% (ARR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03, 1.11), with no significant change in 30‐day stroke mortality. There were no changes in incidence or 30‐day mortality of MI or stroke in the low‐impact area.ConclusionIn the 2 weeks following Hurricane Sandy, there were increases in the incidence of, and 30‐day mortality from, MI and in the incidence of stroke.

Background Hydroxychloroquine has recently received Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA and is currently prescribed in combination with azithromycin for COVID-19 pneumonia. We studied the safety of hydroxychloroquine, alone and in combination with azithromycin.Methods New user cohort studies were conducted including 16 severe adverse events (SAEs).Rheumatoid arthritis patients aged 18+ and initiating hydroxychloroquine were compared to those initiating sulfasalazine and followed up over 30 days. Self-controlled case series (SCCS) were conducted to further establish safety in wider populations. Separately, SAEs associated with hydroxychloroquineazithromycin (compared to hydroxychloroquine-amoxicillin) were studied. Data comprised 14 sources of claims data or electronic medical records from Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, UK, and USA.Propensity score stratification and calibration using negative control outcomes were used to address confounding. Cox models were fitted to estimate calibrated hazard ratios (CalHRs) according to drug use. Estimates were pooled where I2<40%. ResultsOverall, 956,374 and 310,350 users of hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine, and 323,122 and 351,956 users of hydroxychloroquine-azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine-amoxicillin were included.No excess risk of SAEs was identified when 30-day hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine use were compared. SCCS confirmed these findings. However, when azithromycin was added to hydroxychloroquine, we observed an increased risk of 30-day cardiovascular mortality (CalHR2.19 [1.22-3.94]), chest pain/angina (CalHR 1.15 [95% CI 1.05-1.26]), and heart failure (CalHR 1.22 [95% CI 1.02-1.45])

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