Ethan Rhodes
The number of coronavirus cases requiring hospitalization has been a key metric for understanding the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems. The COVID-19 Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) in the US, for example, collects demographic data to calculate hospitalization rates. However, during the early stages of the pandemic, data on hospitalization rates was inconsistent across states, with only 17 states regularly releasing information. This made it challenging to accurately determine the overall hospitalization rate and compare states. Studies have also shown that existing hospitalization ratios may underestimate total infections, as asymptomatic and mildly infected individuals often go untested. Furthermore, factors such as vaccination rates, the emergence of new variants, and seasonal variations can influence hospitalization trends.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 24 July 2025 |
| Location | United States |
| Hospitalization rates by | Season, surveillance site, age group, sex, race, ethnicity, clinical characteristics, underlying medical conditions, reason for admission, patient outcomes |
| Number of hospitalizations in New York State | 5,327 |
| Number of patients in intensive care units in New York State | 1,290 |
| Percentage of cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths associated with people 65 and older | 31%, 45%, 53%, 80% |
| Infection-hospitalization ratio (IHR) for Indiana | 2.1% |
| Infection-hospitalization ratio estimates by age group | 0.4% for those younger than 40 years, 9.2% for those older than 60 years |
| Percentage of emergency room visits for COVID-19 in the U.S. as of mid-July | 0.5% |
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What You'll Learn
Hospitalization rates by season, surveillance site, age group, sex, and race
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) monitors trends in COVID-19-associated hospitalizations among children and adults. COVID-NET covers more than 34 million people, including an estimated 10% of the U.S. population. The COVID-NET interactive dashboard presents hospitalization rates that can be viewed through various filters, including by season, surveillance site, age group, sex, and race.
Hospitalization Rates by Season
COVID-NET allows for the comparison of hospitalization rates by season. Clinical characteristics, such as the progression of COVID-19 illness and medical interventions, can be viewed by month, quarter, or surveillance season.
Hospitalization Rates by Surveillance Site
Hospitalization rates can also be compared by surveillance site. COVID-NET currently comprises 185 counties and county equivalents in the 13 states participating in the Respiratory Virus Surveillance Network.
Hospitalization Rates by Age Group
The COVID-NET interactive dashboard enables users to view hospitalization rates by age group. This information helps identify which age groups are most at risk for COVID-19-associated hospitalizations.
Hospitalization Rates by Sex
COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates can be analyzed by sex through the COVID-NET dashboard. This data can be used to understand any disparities in hospitalization rates between males and females.
Hospitalization Rates by Race
Hospitalization rates can also be compared by race and ethnicity. Prior to the 2020-2021 season, National Center for Health Statistics bridged-race population estimates were used as denominators for rate calculations. Starting in the 2020-2021 season, unbridged census population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, are utilized.
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Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) monitors laboratory-confirmed, COVID-19-associated hospitalizations among children and adults. COVID-NET calculates hospitalization rates as the number of residents in a surveillance area hospitalized with lab-confirmed COVID-19, divided by the total population estimate for that area.
COVID-19 hospitalization rates are used to understand trends in virus circulation, estimate disease burden, and respond to outbreaks. Demographic and detailed clinical information, including underlying conditions, help determine who is most at risk.
Current literature has shown that infected patients with specific comorbidities or preconditions (e.g., hypertension, respiratory problems, diabetes) and old age are expected to develop a more severe response to the infection and may consequently need longer hospitalizations and intensive care.
From February 12 to March 16, 2020, between 8.1 and 18.8 percent of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. among those aged 65 to 74 years required admission to an intensive care unit.
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Infection-hospitalization ratio (IHR)
The Infection-Hospitalization Ratio (IHR) is a metric used to determine the percentage of infected individuals who are hospitalized. It is calculated by dividing the number of hospitalized COVID-19 cases by the total number of infections estimated by a model. The IHR is an important tool for understanding the severity of a disease and the burden it places on healthcare systems.
The IHR can vary depending on demographic factors such as age and location. For example, research has shown that the IHR generally increases by nearly 5% for each year of age. Additionally, there can be considerable variation in IHR between different locations, which may be due to factors such as the prevalence of obesity and other comorbidities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized by a constantly changing epidemiological situation, which has made it challenging to accurately determine the IHR at any given time. However, it has been observed that the IHR, along with the infection ICU ratio (IIR) and infection fatality ratio (IFR), consistently decreased throughout the pandemic, with significant reductions between the initial phase and the Omicron period. This decrease may be attributed to the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and lockdowns, as well as the rollout of COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.
Surveillance networks such as COVID-NET in the United States have played a crucial role in monitoring COVID-19-associated hospitalizations. By collecting demographic and clinical data, these networks can help public health authorities understand hospitalization trends, identify high-risk groups, and inform public health policies and resource allocation decisions. COVID-NET, for instance, covers more than 34 million people in the US, allowing for the calculation of hospitalization rates by season, surveillance site, age group, sex, and race/ethnicity.
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Hospital capacity
In the early stages of the pandemic, some areas, like New York, faced significant challenges in terms of hospital capacity. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo highlighted the need to expand the number of beds available for COVID-19 patients and ordered hospitals to increase their capacity by at least 50%, aiming to double their bed count. The hospitalization numbers in New York state increased rapidly, with 5,327 people hospitalized, including 1,290 in intensive care units, within a short period.
The COVID-19 hospitalization rates vary based on various factors, including demographics, age, race, sex, and underlying medical conditions. According to a study in Indiana as of April 30, 2020, the overall infection-hospitalization ratio (IHR) was 2.1%, ranging from 0.4% for those under 40 to 9.2% for those over 60. This indicates that age is a significant factor influencing the need for hospitalization.
Surveillance systems, such as COVID-NET in the United States, play a crucial role in monitoring COVID-19-associated hospitalizations. COVID-NET collects demographic data, including age group, sex, race, and ethnicity, as well as clinical characteristics, to understand hospitalization trends and identify high-risk individuals. This information is valuable for public health officials and policymakers in making informed decisions and allocating resources effectively.
Additionally, vaccination status influences hospital capacity. As vaccine uptake decreases, there is a risk of increased hospitalizations, particularly among vulnerable populations. Maintaining high vaccination rates helps reduce the number of severe cases requiring hospitalization and alleviates pressure on healthcare systems.
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Emergency room visits
The number of COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization has been a key metric for monitoring the pandemic. However, data collection has been inconsistent across states and countries, with some not reporting hospitalization data at all. This inconsistency has made it challenging to accurately assess the impact of the virus and compare states and countries.
In the early stages of the pandemic, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo highlighted the importance of tracking COVID-19 hospitalizations and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. The numbers escalated rapidly, with hospitalizations reaching 5,327 and ICU admissions at 1,290 in New York State within a short period.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report analyzing the first 4,226 COVID-19 cases in the United States. The report found that 31% of cases, 45% of hospitalizations, 53% of ICU admissions, and 80% of deaths were associated with individuals aged 65 and older. This data emphasized the heightened vulnerability of older adults to severe COVID-19 illness requiring hospitalization.
More recently, there has been a rise in emergency room visits for COVID-19, indicating a potential surge in infections. As of mid-July, COVID-19 cases accounted for 0.5% of emergency room visits in the United States, up from 0.3% at the beginning of the summer. This increase is notable as emergency room visits reflect cases where individuals are sufficiently unwell to actively seek medical care. Experts have observed a rise in both young children and older adults presenting to emergency departments with COVID-19.
The COVID-19 virus has demonstrated a unique pattern of seasonal spikes, often occurring twice or even three times a year. This differs from typical respiratory illnesses, which usually peak during the winter months. The frequency of spikes is influenced by factors such as indoor gatherings in cold weather, travel, vacations, and social events during certain seasons. Additionally, vaccination rates and the emergence of new variants also play a role in the fluctuations of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
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Frequently asked questions
The number of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 varies across different states and countries. For example, in New York State, the number of hospitalizations rose from 549 to 5,327 in a span of a few days in March 2020. In Indiana, the overall infection-hospitalization ratio (IHR) was 2.1% as of April 30, 2020, with rates ranging from 0.4% for those under 40 to 9.2% for those over 60. The CDC uses hospitalization rates to understand trends in virus circulation, estimate disease burden, and respond to outbreaks.
Hospitalization rates for COVID-19 are influenced by various factors, including age, underlying medical conditions, and the emergence and spread of new variants. For instance, older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions are more likely to require hospitalization. Additionally, the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing severe disease and the availability of hospital beds can also impact hospitalization rates.
Data on coronavirus hospitalizations is collected and reported by various organizations, including government agencies, healthcare institutions, and research institutions. For example, the CDC collects data on COVID-19 hospitalizations through its COVID-NET surveillance network, which covers over 34 million people in the United States. However, there are inconsistencies in reporting across different states and countries, with some not disclosing hospitalization data.
