BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

• Lavery et al (CDC MMWR, 2020) characterize the on-going clinical care required after COVID-19 diagnosis by investigating discharge patterns and hospital readmissions after an initial COVID-19 hospitalization

METHODS:

• Cohort study
• Data source
  • Electronic health records and administrative data from the Premier Healthcare Database
  • 865 nongovernmental, community, and teaching hospitals
• Participants
  • Patients with an initial COVID-19 hospitalization (index hospitalization)
• Study design
  • The authors examined health records of patients discharged after a COVID-19 hospitalization between March and July, 2020
  • Readmission was determined to have occurred if a patient was admitted to the hospital again within 2 months of the index hospitalization

RESULTS:

• 126,137 patients with an index COVID-19 admission
  • Deaths: 15% during index hospitalization
• 9% of surviving patients were readmitted to the same hospital within 2 months of discharge
  • >1 readmission: 1.6%
• Readmissions occurred more often among patients discharged to a nursing facility or home health care, compared to those discharged to self-care
  • Discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF): 15%
  • Who needed home health care: 12%
  • Self-care: 7%
• Odds of hospital readmission increased with
  • Age among persons aged ≥65 years
  • Presence of certain chronic conditions
  • Hospitalization within the 3 months preceding the index hospitalization
  • If discharge from the index hospitalization was to a SNF or to home with health care assistance

CONCLUSION:

• 1 in 11 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were readmitted to hosptial within 2 months
• Most at risk
  • Older patients, those with other chronic conditions, and those requiring assisted health care
• The authors conclude

With the recent increase in cases nationwide, hospital planning can account for these increasing numbers along with the potential for at least 9% of patients to be readmitted, requiring additional beds and resources

Continued public health messaging and interventions to prevent COVID-19 among older persons and those with underlying medical conditions is essential

Learn More – Primary Sources:

Characteristics of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Discharged and Experiencing Same-Hospital Readmission — United States, March–August 2020

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What are the Strongest Predictors of COVID-19 Hospitalization and Critical Illness?

Are ACE Inhibitors and ARBs Associated with Increased COVID-19 Susceptibility?

CDC Weekly Update: Which Comorbidities are Associated with COVID-19 in the US?

Can COVID-19 Patients be Co-Infected with Other Respiratory Pathogens?