Associations between recently diagnosed conditions and hospitalization due to COVID-19 in patients aged 50 years and older– A SHARE-based analysis

Background: Only a few studies have been carried out with a large sample size on the relationship between chronic conditions and hospitalization for COVID-19, and there is no research examining recently diagnosed conditions. Our purpose was to evaluate this association in a large sample including the older population from Europe and Israel. Methods: Data from the SHARE COVID-19 Survey, a representative survey of individuals aged 50 or over residing in 27 European countries and Israel, were retrieved. Associations between recently diagnosed chronic conditions (i.e., conditions detected over the last three years) (exposure) and hospitalization due to COVID-19 (outcome) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: 51,514 participants on average 71.0 (SD = 9.2) years old were included. Participants with multimorbidity (i.e., two or more recently diagnosed conditions) had significantly higher odds for COVID-19 hospitalization (AOR = 3.91 [95%CI = 2.14-7.12]). Independent conditions such as lung disease (AOR = 16.94 [95%CI = 9.27-30.95]), heart disease (AOR = 3.29 [95%CI =1.50-7.21]), or cancer (AOR = 3.45 [95%CI = 1.26-9.48]), showed particularly high odds for hospitalization due to COVID-19 disease. Conclusions: People with recently diagnosed diseases, and in particular those having lung disease, heart disease, or cancer were significantly more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19.