International Journal of Public Health (Jun 2022)

Is Avoidable Hospitalization Experienced Prior to Infection Associated With COVID-19-Related Deaths?

  • Woo-Ri Lee,
  • Ki-Bong Yoo,
  • Gyeong-Min Lee,
  • Jun Hyuk Koo,
  • Li-Hyun Kim

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604426
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 67

Abstract

Read online

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of the presence or absence of avoidable hospitalization before acquiring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on COVID-19-related deaths.Methods: This study used the total NHIS-COVID-19 dataset comprising domestic COVID-19 patients, provided by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in South Korea. We conducted logistic regression and double robust estimation (DRE) to confirm the effect of avoidable hospitalization on COVID-19-related deaths.Results: Logistic regression analysis confirmed that the odds ratio (OR) of death due to COVID-19 was high in the group that experienced avoidable hospitalization. DRE analysis showed a higher OR of death due to COVID-19 in the group that experienced avoidable hospitalization compared to the group that did not experience avoidable hospitalization, except in the subgroup aged ≤69 years.Conclusion: The effect of avoidable hospitalization on COVID-19-related deaths was confirmed. Therefore, continued health care, preventive medicine, and public health management are essential for reducing avoidable hospitalizations despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians need to be informed about the importance of continuous disease management.

Keywords