Objectives: To analyze the frequencies of 3 types of hospital revisits by patients after treatment for COVID-19 in the emergency department.
Material and methods: Retrospective observational study of consecutive patients who came to the emergency department in March and April 2020 and were discharged alive with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Baseline and acute episode data were collected and the patients were followed for 1 year. We analyzed variables associated with revisits for any reason, revisits related to COVID-19, and early COVID-19-related revisits (within 30 days).
Results: A total of 1352 patients with a mean age of 62.1 years (52.9% male) were studied. A total of 553 revisits were made by 342 patients (25.3%) for any reason; 132 (9.8%) revisited in relation to COVID-19 at least once. Of those, 103 (7.6%) revisited within 30 days (early) and 29 (2.2%) came later. COVID-19-related revisits were associated with thrombotic events (odds ratio [OR], 7.58; 95% CI, 1.75-32.81) and pulmonary fibrosis (OR, 4.95; 95% CI, 1.27-19.24); early revisits were inversely associated with follow-up management by a contracted health care support service (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.03-0.92). Hospital admission during the initial visit was significantly associated with fewer revisits for any reason or related to COVID-19 at any time.
Conclusion: Fewer than half the total number of emergency department revisits after initial care for COVID-19 were related to the novel coronavirus infection. Revisits occurred more often in the first 30 days after discharge. Later COVID-19-related revisits were uncommon, but given the large number of patients with this infection, such visits can be expected.
Objetivo: Analizar diferentes categorías de revisita (RV) al año en pacientes con infección COVID-19 que consultan en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH).
Metodo: Estudio observacional, retrospectivo, que incluyó pacientes consecutivos que consultaron al SUH en los meses de marzo y abril de 2020 con diagnóstico de COVID-19 y fueron dados de alta vivos del hospital. Se recogieron variables basales y del episodio agudo y se realizó un seguimiento al año. Se hicieron tres comparaciones identificando variables asociadas a la RV total, RV relacionada con COVID-19 (RCovid) y RCovid precoz (# 30 días).
Resultados: Se analizaron 1.352 pacientes con edad media de 62,1 años y 52,9% varones. En el seguimiento al año hubo 553 RV en 342 (25,3%) pacientes, 132 (9,8%) con al menos una RCovid, 103 (7,6%) precoz y 29 (2,2%) tardía. La RCovid se relacionó con la presencia de fenómenos trombóticos [OR 7,58 (IC 95%: 1,75-32,81)] y la fibrosis pulmonar [OR 4,95 (IC 95%: 1,27-19,24)]; y la RCovid precoz se relacionó inversamente con alta a dispositivo de soporte sanitario [OR 0,18 (IC 95%: 0,03-0,92)]. El ingreso hospitalario en el evento índice disminuyó la RV total y RCovid y las hospitalizaciones derivadas de esta RV de manera significativa a largo plazo.
Conclusiones: Menos de la mitad de la RV total tras una infección COVID-19 está relacionada con la infección, y es más frecuente en los primeros 30 días. La RCovid tardía no es frecuente, pero dado el elevado número de pacientes que han sido infectados por COVID-19 se debe tener en cuenta.
Keywords: COVID-19.; Early revisits.; Emergency department.; Late revisits.; Revisita precoz.; Revisita tardía.; Revisita total.; Revisits.; Urgencias..