Hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis

In 2024–25, there were 72,200 hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis. The median length of stay for these patients was 5 days.

Who received hospital care involving a COVID-19 diagnosis?

In 2024–25:

• just under 1 in 10 (8.6%) hospitalisations for patients who had a COVID-19 diagnosis recorded were for patients between 0 and 24 years of age
• nearly 1 in 5 (21%) hospitalisations were for patients between 25 and 64 years of age
• nearly 1 in 2 (46%) hospitalisations were for people 65 to 84 years of age and 1 in 4 (24%) were for people 85 years and above.

Where did patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis live?

There were more hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis for patients who lived in cities and in areas classified as being the most disadvantaged.

In 2024–25, of the 72,200 hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis:

• almost 9 in 10 hospitalisations (88%, or 63,400 hospitalisations) were for people living in Major cities and Inner regional areas combined
• 1.9% of hospitalisations were for patients who usually lived in Remote or Very Remote areas
• nearly 1 in 4 (24%) hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis were for patients living in the most disadvantaged socioeconomic areas
• 15% of hospitalisations were for patients living in the most advantaged socioeconomic areas
• 4.2% of hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis were for First Nations people.

Intensive care for hospitalisations involving COVID-19 diagnosis

Hospitalisations in which the person spent time in an Intensive care unit (ICU) and/or received continuous ventilatory support (CVS) are an indication that the patient required a higher level of acute care. During these hospitalisations, patients had at least one hour of ICU or CVS recorded, or a combination of both.

In 2024–25, of the 72,200 hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis:

• 3.8% involved a stay in ICU, with patients receiving a median of 72 hours (3 days) in ICU care
• 1.2% involved CVS
• 3.6% died in hospital.

Hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis with a comorbid chronic condition

Patients who receive care during their hospitalisation may receive treatment for one or multiple conditions. Patients hospitalised with a COVID-19 diagnosis may have received care for another chronic condition, which is recorded as a primary diagnosis or an additional diagnosis. For this analysis, these diagnoses are referred to as ‘comorbid chronic conditions’.

In 2024–25, of the 72,200 hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis:

• nearly 2 in 5 (38%) recorded no comorbid chronic conditions
• over 1 in 4 (28%) recorded one comorbid chronic condition
• more than 1 in 3 (34%) recorded two or more chronic comorbid conditions.

In 2024–25, hospitalisations involving a COVID-19 diagnosis for patients recorded with one comorbid chronic conditions were more likely to receive acute care in ICU and/or CVS than patients without a comorbid chronic condition.

Of the 20,100 hospitalisations with one recorded comorbid chronic condition:

• 2.3% involved time spent in ICU
• 0.6% involved CVS
• 2.8% died in hospital.

In comparison, hospitalisations involving no comorbid chronic conditions were less likely to involve time spent in ICU and/or CVS. Of the 27,700 hospitalisations with no recorded comorbid chronic conditions:

• 1.3% involved time spent in ICU
• 0.4% involved CVS
• 1.2% died in hospital.

Patients who received treatment in ICU and/or CVS with a comorbid condition

The most common comorbid conditions associated with COVID-19 hospitalisations were Cardiovascular disease (36%; 37,000) and Diabetes type 2 (19%; 19,500).

Of the 37,000 hospitalisations with a recorded comorbid diagnosis of Cardiovascular disease:

• 13% involved time spent in ICU
• 5.3% involved CVS
• 6.9% died in hospital.

Of the 19,500 hospitalisations with a recorded comorbid diagnosis of type 2 diabetes:

• 6.0% involved time spent in ICU
• 1.8% involved CVS
• 4.5% died in hospital.