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Universal health care delivery mitigates socioeconomic-related risk for adverse outcomes in hospitalised patients: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

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Listed:
  • Fahimeh Faqihi
  • Rita Perri
  • Jimmy Chien
  • Jin-Gun Cho
  • Stephen Milne
  • Shopna Bag
  • Nicole Gilroy
  • John R Wheatley
  • Kristina Kairaitis

Abstract

Background: Internationally, socioeconomic disadvantage is related to severe outcomes of COVID-19. We investigated the impact of socioeconomic disadvantage on infection rates, hospitalisation, and in-hospital outcomes for COVID-19 with standardised medical care. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included SARS-CoV-2 PCR-confirmed patients ≥18 years, admitted to a major public hospital between January 2020 and December 2021. Severe COVID-19 outcomes were defined by a composite outcome of in-hospital death or other critical complications. A generalised linear regression model of demographic features, co-existing conditions, and socioeconomic status was used to determine the risks of the composite outcome. Results: Of 797,343 individuals ≥18 years in the health district, 50,906 (6.4%) were PCR-positive, and 1,962 were hospitalised. Compared with the whole health district population, infected individuals were younger (median [interquartile range] age 35 [25–48] years vs 42 [31–58] years) and from areas with the greatest socioeconomic disadvantage (34.4% vs 20%; both p

Suggested Citation

  • Fahimeh Faqihi & Rita Perri & Jimmy Chien & Jin-Gun Cho & Stephen Milne & Shopna Bag & Nicole Gilroy & John R Wheatley & Kristina Kairaitis, 2025. "Universal health care delivery mitigates socioeconomic-related risk for adverse outcomes in hospitalised patients: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0322780
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322780
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