Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 increased by 19% in 2022–2023, while emergency department (ED) visits due to the virus decreased in the same time period, according to the latest data released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
From April 2022 to March 2023, there were more than 120,000 hospital stays in Canada for patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis, an increase from 101,000 the previous year. During the same period, more than 222,000 ED visits for COVID-19 were reported by participating jurisdictions, a decrease from 262,000 visits due to the virus in 2021–2022. All hospitalization data excludes Quebec.
Seniors age 65+ accounted for the largest increase in hospitalizations compared with the previous year. And while the average total length of stay for COVID-19 hospitalizations increased from 13 days to 20, intensive care unit (ICU) volumes dropped to 16,000 in 2022–2023 from 21,000 the year before.
According to CIHI’s data, more than 12,000 people hospitalized for COVID-19–related illness died in the hospital in 2022–2023, representing about 10% of all COVID-19–related hospitalizations. In the previous year, more than 11% of people hospitalized for the virus died in the hospital.
“As we move out of the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to impact hospitals and EDs across the country,” says Juliana Wu, Director, Acute and Ambulatory Care Information Services, CIHI. “This data helps planners and decision-makers understand these impacts and can inform resource planning as hospitals focus on addressing issues like surgical backlogs.”
Key findings from the data:
- Patients who were hospitalized more recently with COVID-19 (April 2022 to March 2023) were older (median age of 75 compared with 63 the previous year).
- 90% of ED visits were completed within 25 hours, an increase from 15 hours the year before.
- The majority of patients (69%) who went to the ED were discharged home, while 26% were admitted to hospital.
- More than half (62%) of patients admitted to hospital were discharged home, while 10% died in the facility. The average length of stay in hospital increased to 20 days from 13 the previous year.
- 13% of hospital stays included an ICU admission. Among those patients with ICU stays, 39% received ventilation and 23% died in the facility.
About CIHI
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing essential health information to all Canadians.
CIHI works closely with federal, provincial and territorial partners and stakeholders throughout Canada to gather, package and disseminate information to inform policy, management, care and research, leading to better and more equitable health outcomes for all Canadians.
Health information has become one of society’s most valuable public goods. For more than 25 years, CIHI has set the pace on data privacy, security, accessibility and innovation to improve Canada’s health systems.
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