The impact of socioeconomic status on 30‐day mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 infection

Socioeconomic status (SES) impacts outcome in a number of diseases. Our aim was to compare the outcome of hospitalized coronavirus disease 219 (COVID‐19) patients in low and high SES group. Prospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID‐19 in three acute hospitals. Electronic case notes were analyzed for baseline characteristics and admission investigations. Scottish index for multiple deprivation (SIMD) was used to divide patients into two groups: more deprived (SIMD 1‐5) and less deprived (SIMD 6‐10) and results compared. Poor outcome was defined as either need for intubation and/or death. One hundred and seventy‐three patients were identified, one was excluded. One hundred and eight (62.8%) were males, mean age was 68.5 ± 14.7 years. Commonest comorbidity was hypertension 87 (50.6%). One hundred and seventeen (68.0%) patients were in more deprived group. Baseline characteristics, admission blood profile and reason for admission were evenly matched in both groups. Outcomes were comparable in both groups: transfer to critical care (27.4% vs 27.3%; P = .991), intubation (18.8% vs 20.2%; P = .853), 30‐day all‐cause mortality (19.7% vs 14.5%; P = .416) and overall poor outcome (30.8% vs 30.9%; P = .985). Median time to discharge was 7 days longer (17 vs 10 days; P = .018) and median time to death was 4.5 days longer in more deprived group (17 vs 12.5 days; P = .388). Contrary to recent literature on COVID‐19 in other geographical areas, our study suggests that the SES does not have any impact on outcome of hospitalized patients with COVID‐19, however it negatively impacts length of stay.