ICU sedation, delirium & recovery
Predictors of Critical Illness During Different COVID-19 Pandemic Periods Compared With Seasonal Influenza
Authors' conclusion
Although COVID-19 consistently resulted in higher hospitalization rates than influenza, demographic and clinical patterns converged during the later pandemic stages. Advanced age was the strongest predictor of severe illness in both infections, with lack of vaccination additionally associated with severe COVID-19.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 or influenza in Swedenhospitalizations
- Participants
- 92,428 vs 21,355
- Exposure
- COVID-19 across pandemic periods vs seasonal influenza
- COVID-19n = 92,428
- Influenzan = 21,355
- Outcome
- Predictors of ICU admission and in-hospital mortality
Methodological detailspopulation-based, nationwide registry data
- Population-based
- Nationwide registry data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- ICU admission aHRs strongest in unvaccinated, males and age 45-74 yr for COVID-19; in age 45-64 yr or chronic lung diseases for influenza
- Common predictors of in-hospital mortality: age >45 yr (sharp increase after 74), male sex, chronic comorbidities; for COVID-19 also unvaccinated status
- Adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic factors, comorbidities, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; influenza vaccination data not available
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Hospitalization and ICU admission rates across periods
- Hospitalization rates lowest in delta-dominant period; ICU admission rates lowest in Omicron-dominant period
- Omicron period most closely resembled influenza in demographics, LOS, ICU admissions and in-hospital mortality
- Omicron age profile similar to influenza (≈ 50% ≥ 75 yr)
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Predictors of Critical Illness During Different COVID-19 Pandemic Periods Compared With Seasonal Influenza. Crit Care Med. Published 7 September 2026. doi:10.
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