Risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 transmission, outbreak duration, and mortality in Fraser Health acute-care settings

Abstract

Background: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in acute-care settings affects patients, healthcare workers, and the already-burdened healthcare system. An analysis of risk factors associated with outbreak severity was conducted to inform prevention strategies. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of COVID-19 outbreaks at Fraser Health (FH) acute-care sites between March 2020 and March 2021. Outbreak severity measures included COVID-19 attack rate, outbreak duration, and 30-day case mortality. Covariates at patient, outbreak, unit level, and facility level were included (Table 1). Generalized linear models with generalized estimation equations were used for all outcome measures, with outbreak duration and 30-day case mortality using multivariate negative binomial distributions, and attack rate using Gaussian distribution. A P value of .05 indicated statistical significance. Analyses