RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Retrospective evaluation of patients with and without 14-day readmissions following hospitalization for COVID-19
JF Journal of Investigative Medicine
JO J Investig Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 449
OP 452
DO 10.1136/jim-2021-001986
VO 70
IS 2
A1 Kavitha Subramoney
A1 Omar Elsheikh
A1 Saira Butt
A1 Daniel Romano
A1 Lindsey Reese
A1 Areeba Kara
YR 2022
UL http://hw-f5-jim.highwire.org/content/70/2/449.abstract
AB Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 must have a safe discharge plan to prevent readmissions. We assessed patients with COVID-19 admitted to hospitals belonging to a single health system between April 2020 and June 2020. Demographics, vitals and laboratory data were obtained by electronic data query and discharge processes were reviewed by manual abstraction. Over the study period, 94 out of 912 (10.3%) patients were readmitted within 14 days of discharge. Readmitted patients were older and spent more time in the intensive care unit (p<0.01). Statistical differences were noted in discharge-day heart rates, temperatures, platelet counts, and neutrophil and lymphocyte percentages between the readmitted and non-readmitted groups. Readmitted patients were less likely to be discharged home and to receive complete discharge instructions or home oxygen (p<0.01). Age, duration of intensive care unit stay, disposition destinations other than home, incomplete discharge planning and no arrangement for home oxygen may be associated with 14-day readmissions in patients with COVID-19. Certain clinical parameters on discharge day, while statistically different, may not reach clinically discriminant thresholds. Structured discharge processes may improve outcomes.