Risk factors for the deterioration of patients with mild COVID-19 admitted to a COVID-19 community treatment center
10.5124/jkma.2022.65.6.377
- Author:
Seung Yeon LEE
1
;
Kyoung Jun SONG
;
Chun Soo LIM
;
Young Jun CHAI
;
Sun Young LEE
;
Stephen Gyung Won LEE
Author Information
1. Office of External Affairs and Development, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2022;65(6):377-385
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Background:The rapid increase in the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients led to the operation of COVID-19 facilities for patients with mild COVID-19 in South Korea. We analyzed the correlation and effect of risk factors associated with the worsening of patients with mild COVID-19 leading to their transfer from a community treatment center to a hospital.
Methods:This retrospective cohort observational study included 1,208 COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms who were admitted to the Namsan Community Treatment Center between June 2020 and January 2021. A chi-square test was performed to examine the differences in the transfer rate by age, sex, nationality, presence of symptoms at admission, and season, and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association of variables to the hospitalization rate.
Results:Of the 1,208 patients, 212 (17.5%) were transferred to a hospital due to clinical deterioration. Increasing odds of hospital transfer were associated significantly with higher age and presentation in autumn, whereas sex and symptomatic illness at admission did not show a statistically significant association.
Conclusion:The findings indicate the importance of the initial risk classification of COVID-19 patients based on thorough assessment and close monitoring, timely allocation of appropriate resources to high-risk groups that are likely to develop severe disease, and reduction of medical resource wastage and limiting of administrative force to ensure that patients receive the best treatment.
