Hospital Readmissions of Discharged Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Lina Marcela Parra,1 Mireia Cantero,1 Ignacio Morrás,2 Alberto Vallejo,1 Itziar Diego,2 Elena Jiménez-Tejero,1 Elena Múñez,3 Ángel Asensio,1 Ana Fermández-Cruz,3,4 Antonio Ramos-Martinez3,4 On behalf of Puerta de Hierro Hospital Admission Study Group1Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, HU Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain; 2Servicio de Medicina Interna, HU Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain; 3Servicio de Medicina Interna, HU Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, UAM, Madrid, Spain; 4Instituto Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro - Segovia de Arana (IDIPHSA), Madrid, SpainCorrespondence: Antonio Ramos-MartinezServicio de Medicina Interna, HU Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Calle Joaquín Rodrigo 2, Majadahonda, Madrid 28222, SpainTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [email protected]: To analyse the rate of occurrence and the clinical variables associated with readmission of patients who had previously been discharged after admission for COVID-19.Setting: University hospital in Madrid (Spain).Participants: Sixty-one patients (74% male) who presented COVID-19 were readmitted during the 3 weeks after discharge from hospital.Interventions: Nested case–control study paired (1:1 ratio) by age, sex and period of admission.Outcome Measures: Rate of readmission rate of patients discharged after suffering COVID-19 and identification of the clinical variables associated with it.Results: Out of 1368 patients who were discharged during the study period, 61 patients (4.4%) were readmitted. Immunocompromised patients (N=10.2%) were at increased risk for readmission (p=0.04). There was also a trend towards a higher probability of readmission in hypertensive patients (p=0.07). Cases had had a shorter hospital stay and a higher prevalence of fever during the 48 hours prior to discharge. There were no significant differences in oxygen levels measured at admission and discharge by pulse oximetry intra-subject or between the groups. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio at hospital admission tended to be higher in cases than in controls (p=0.06). Neither glucocorticoids nor anticoagulants prescribed at hospital discharge were associated with a lower readmission rate. Patients who were readmitted due to a thrombotic event (8 patients, 13.1%) presented a higher level of D-dimer at discharge of initial admission.Conclusion: The rate of readmission after discharge from hospital for COVID-19 was low. Immunocompromised patients and those presenting with fever during the 48 hours prior to discharge were at greater risk of readmission to hospital.Keywords: coronavirus, pneumonia, viral, patient readmission, pulmonary embolism, heparin

Keywords

• coronavirus
• pneumonia
• viral
• patient readmission
• pulmonary embolism
• heparin.