Comparing clinical characteristics of influenza and common coronavirus infections using electronic health records

Abstract

Background: We compared outcomes in inpatients and outpatients, pre-COVID-19, who were infected with either coronavirus or influenza. Methods: Using deidentified electronic health records data from the Geisinger-Regeneron partnership, we compared patients with RT-PCR-positive tests for the 4 common coronaviruses (229E, HKU1, NL63, OC43) or influenza (A and B) from June 2016 to February 2019. Results: Overall, 52 833 patients were tested for coronaviruses and influenza. For patients ≥21 years old, 1555 and 3991 patient encounters had confirmed positive coronavirus and influenza tests, respectively. Both groups had similar intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates (7.2% vs 6.1%, P =. 12), although patients with coronavirus had significantly more pneumonia (15% vs 7.4%, P