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. 2023 Jan;17(1):e13089.
doi: 10.1111/irv.13089. Epub 2023 Jan 10.

Developing a sampling methodology for timely reporting of population-based COVID-19-associated hospitalization surveillance in the United States, COVID-NET 2020-2021

Alissa O'Halloran  1 , Michael Whitaker  1 , Kadam Patel  1   2 , A Elizabeth Allen  3 , Kennon R Copeland  3 , Carrie Reed  1 , Sue Reynolds  1 , Christopher A Taylor  1 , Fiona Havers  1 , Lindsay Kim  1 , Kirk Wolter  3 , Shikha Garg  1
Affiliations

Developing a sampling methodology for timely reporting of population-based COVID-19-associated hospitalization surveillance in the United States, COVID-NET 2020-2021

Alissa O'Halloran et al. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) required a sampling methodology that allowed for production of timely population-based clinical estimates to inform the ongoing US COVID-19 pandemic response.

Methods: We developed a flexible sampling approach that considered reporting delays, differential hospitalized case burden across surveillance sites, and changing geographic and demographic trends over time. We incorporated weighting methods to adjust for the probability of selection and non-response, and to calibrate the sampled case distribution to the population distribution on demographics. We additionally developed procedures for variance estimation.

Results: Between March 2020 and June 2021, 19,293 (10.4%) of all adult hospitalized cases were sampled for chart abstraction. Variance estimates for select variables of interest were within desired ranges.

Conclusions: COVID-NET's sampling methodology allowed for reporting of robust and timely, population-based data on the clinical epidemiology of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations and evolving trends over time, while attempting to reduce data collection burden on surveillance sites. Such methods may provide a general framework for other surveillance systems needing to quickly and efficiently collect and disseminate data for public health action.

Keywords: COVID-19; hospitalizations; population-based surveillance; sampling; survey methods.

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Conflict of interest statement

Kirk Wolter and Kennon A. Copeland disclosed personal fees from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as payment through a T&M contract.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Data workflow and timelines for COVID‐NET sampling and public reporting of rate data and clinical estimatesa
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
COVID‐19‐associated hospitalization counts by admission date and age group, COVID‐NET March 2020 to June 2021
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Weighted percentages and confidence intervals for select clinical interventions and outcomes by month among sampled cases, COVID‐NET,a March 2020 to June 2021
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. CDC . Estimated disease burden of COVID‐19. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/burden.html. (Accessed May 4, 2021).
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . COVID Data Tracker. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home. (Accessed May 4, 2021).
    1. CDC . National Health Interview Survey. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/index.htm. (Accessed May 4, 2021).
    1. CDC . National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm. (Accessed May 4, 2021).
    1. CDC . National Immunization Survey. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/nis/index.html. (Accessed May 4, 2021).

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