Hospitalizations and mortality by severe acute respiratory syndrome: comparison between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods.

In 2020, the detection rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome was 21 times higher than in 2019 and new symptoms, such as anosmia and ageusia, were included in their investigation. In both periods evaluated, elderly patients and patients on invasive mechanical ventilation had a higher risk of mortality. With the pandemic, there was a greater number of hospitalizations and factors associated with mortality.