Objective: Readmission for COVID-19 is associated with high mortality, saturation of health services, and high costs. This study aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors of readmissions in COVID-19 patients in a regional hospital of Spain from February 2020 to March 2021.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study describing the characteristics of adult patients readmitted within thirty days of discharge after being infected with SARS-CoV-2 was carried out. Readmission associated risk factors were analysed using a binary logistic regression model.
Results: Of the 967 patients who survived their first COVID-19 admission, 70 (7.2%) were readmitted within thirty days. Of these, 34.3% presented pneumonia progression, 15.7% functional deterioration, and 12.9% other infections. The mortality rate during readmission was 28.6%. There were no statistically significant differences in the cumulative incidence of readmissions between the epidemic periods (p=0.241). Factors independently associated with readmission were: diabetes mellitus (aOR 1.96, 95%CI 1.07-3.57, p=0.030); acute kidney failure (aOR 2.69, 95%CI 1.43-5.07, p=0.002); not being a candidate for intensive care (aOR 7.68, 95% CI 4.28-13.80, p<0.001); and not being prescribed corticosteroids at discharge (aOR 2.15, 95% CI 1.04-4.44; p=0.039).
Conclusions: A substantial proportion of patients admitted due to COVID-19 are readmitted, and they carry a high letality. Diabetes mellitus, acute kidney failure, not being a candidate for ICU admission, and not being prescribed corticosteroids on discharge are independently associated with an increased risk of readmission.
Objective: Los reingresos por la COVID-19 se asocian a un incremento de la mortalidad, saturación de los servicios sanitarios y elevados costes. Este estudio pretendió evaluar la incidencia y los factores de riesgo de reingreso en pacientes con COVID-19 en un hospital comarcal español entre febrero de 2020 y marzo de 2021.
Methods: Se realizó un estudio sobre una cohorte que describía las características de los pacientes adultos reingresados en los treinta días siguientes al alta tras un ingreso por la COVID-19. Se analizaron los factores de riesgo asociados a reingreso mediante un modelo de regresión de logística binaria.
Results: De los 967 pacientes dados de alta de un primer ingreso por la COVID-19, 70 (7,2%) reingresaron en los treinta días siguientes. De ellos, el 34,3% presentó progresión de la neumonía, el 15,7% deterioro funcional y el 12,9% otras infecciones. La letalidad en el reingreso fue del 28,6%. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la incidencia acumulada de reingreso entre los tres periodos (p=0,241). Los factores asociados de forma independiente con el reingreso fueron: diabetes mellitus (ORa: 1,96; IC 95%:1,07-3,57; p=0,030); insuficiencia renal aguda (ORa 2,69; IC del 95%: 1,43-5,07, p=0,002); no ser candidato a cuidados intensivos (ORa 7,68, IC 95% 4,28-13,80, p<0,001); y no tener prescritos corticosteroides al alta (ORa 2,15, IC 95% 1,04- 4,44; p=0,039).
Conclusions: Una proporción sustancial de los pacientes ingresados por la COVID-19 reingresan, con una elevada letalidad. La diabetes mellitus, la insuficiencia renal aguda, no ser candidato a ingreso en UCI y no tener prescritos corticoides al alta se asocian con un mayor riesgo de reingreso.
Keywords: COVID-19; Pandemic; Pneumonia; Readmission; SARS-CoV-2; Spain.