Association Between Nursing Home Crowding and COVID-19 Infection and Mortality in Ontario, Canada

Importance Nursing home residents have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Prevention recommendations emphasize frequent testing of health care personnel and residents, but additional strategies are needed. Objective To develop a reproducible index of nursing home crowding and determine whether crowding was associated with COVID-19 cases and mortality in the first months of the COVID-19 epidemic. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based retrospective cohort study included more than 78000 residents across more than 600 nursing homes in Ontario, Canada, and was conducted from March 29 to May 20, 2020. Exposures The nursing home crowding index equaled the mean number of residents per bedroom and bathroom. Main Outcomes and Measures The cumulative incidence of COVID-19 cases confirmed by a validated nucleic acid amplification assay and mortality per 100 residents; the introduction of COVID-19 into a home (>= 1 resident case) was a negative tracer. Results Of 623 homes in Ontario, we obtained complete information on 618 homes (99%) housing 78607 residents (women, 54160 [68.9%]; age >= 85 years, 42919 [54.6%]). A total of 5218 residents (6.6%) developed COVID-19 infection, and 1452 (1.8%) died of COVID-19 infection as of May 20, 2020. COVID-19 infection was distributed unevenly across nursing homes; 4496 infections (86%) occurred in 63 homes (10%). The crowding index ranged across homes from 1.3 (mainly single-occupancy rooms) to 4.0 (exclusively quadruple occupancy rooms); 308 homes (50%) had a high crowding index (>= 2). Incidence in high crowding index homes was 9.7% vs 4.5% in low crowding index homes (P < .001), while COVID-19 mortality was 2.7% vs 1.3%, respectively (P < .001). The likelihood of COVID-19 introduction did not differ (high = 31.3% vs low = 30.2%; P = .79). After adjustment for regional, nursing home, and resident covariates, the crowding index remained associated with an increased incidence of infection (relative risk [RR] = 1.73, 95% CI, 1.10-2.72) and mortality (RR, 1.69; 95% CI, 0.99-2.87). A propensity score analysis yielded similar conclusions for infection (RR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.30-3.38) and mortality (RR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.09-3.08). Simulations suggested that converting all 4-bed rooms to 2-bed rooms would have averted 998 COVID-19 cases (19.1%) and 263 deaths (18.1%). Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort of Canadian nursing homes, crowding was common and crowded homes were more likely to experience larger and deadlier COVID-19 outbreaks. Question What is the association of crowding in nursing homes, defined as the mean number of residents per bedroom and bathroom, with nursing home coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality? Findings In this cohort study that included more than 78000 residents of 618 nursing homes in Ontario, Canada, COVID-19 mortality in homes with low crowding was less than half (578 of 46028 residents [1.3%]) than that of homes with high crowding (874 of 32579 residents [2.7%]). Meaning Shared bedrooms and bathrooms in nursing homes are associated with larger and deadlier COVID-19 outbreaks. This cohort study examines the association between nursing home crowding and COVID-19 cases and mortality in the first months of the COVID-19 epidemic in Ontario, Canada.