Table 3.
Post-discharge needs of patients with COVID-19 who survived to discharge.
| No. (%) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All patients survived to discharge | Patients with no ED visits or readmissions | Patients with ED treat and release | Patients readmitted | |
| Total no. | 310 | 284 | 10 | 16 |
| Home | 281 (90.6) | 257 (90.5) | 10 (100) | 14 (87.5) |
| Skilled nursing facility | 25 (8.1) | 23 (8.1) | 0 (0) | 2 (12.5) |
| Median age (range), years | 74 (40–99) | 75 (40–99) | NA | 66 (66–66) |
| DPH facility | 4 (1.3) | 4 (1.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Placement issues | 9 (2.9) | 7 (2.5) | 2 (20) | 0 (0) |
| Unstable housing | 5 (1.6) | 5 (1.8) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| AMA | 1 (0.3) | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Home health and home oxygen | ||||
| Any home service | 75 (24.2) | 68 (23.9) | 2 (20) | 5 (31.3) |
| PT/OT | 42 (13.5) | 38 (13.4) | 2 (20) | 2 (12.5) |
| Nursing | 16 (5.2) | 15 (5.3) | 1 (10) | 0 (0) |
| Home oxygen therapy | 41 (13.2) | 38 (13.4) | 0 (0) | 3 (18.8) |
| No. of home health services required | ||||
| 1 | 55 (17.7) | 49 (17.3) | 1 (10) | 5 (31.3) |
| 2 | 16 (5.2) | 15 (5.3) | 1 (10) | 0 (0) |
| 3 | 4 (1.3) | 4 (1.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Median age (range), years | 64 (27–96) | 64 (27–96) | 75.5 (71–80) | 61 (44–88) |
| Recommended Follow-Up appointments | ||||
| Primary care appointment | 258 (83.2) | 241 (84.9) | 8 (80) | 9 (56.3) |
| PCP identified at discharge | 217 (70) | 199 (70.1) | 7 (70) | 11 (68.8) |
| Specialist appointmenta | 90 (29) | 80 (28.2) | 3 (30) | 7 (43.8) |
| Isolation instructions | ||||
| Isolation documented | 225 (72.6) | 208 (73.2) | 6 (60) | 11 (68.8) |
| Isolation duration specified | 56 (18.1) | 55 (19.4) | 0 (0) | 1 (6.3) |
| Median (range) days isolation remaining | 14 (3–14) | 14 (3–14) | NA | 7 (7–7) |
| Caregiver | ||||
| Caregiver identified | 162 (52.3) | 149 (52.5) | 8 (80) | 5 (31.3) |
| High-risk caregiver identifiedb | 3 (0.9) | 2 (0.7) | 1 (10) | 0 (0) |
| New medications at discharge | ||||
| Short-termc | ||||
| Total patients | 207 (66.8) | 188 (66.2) | 8 (80) | 11 (68.8) |
| Mean (SD) no. of new medications | 2.2 (1.3) | 2.2 (1.3) | 2.4 (1.2) | 1.7 (1.0) |
| Long-term | ||||
| Total patients | 72 (23.2) | 65 (22.9) | 3 (30) | 4 (25) |
| Mean (SD) no. of new medications | 1.6 (1.0) | 1.5 (0.7) | 1.3 (0.6) | 3.5 (2.6) |
| Follow-up monitoring ordered | ||||
| Labsd | 31 (10) | 28 (9.9) | 2 (20) | 1 (6.3) |
| Imaginge | 21 (6.8) | 20 (7) | 1 (10) | 0 (0) |
| Ongoing symptoms at discharge | ||||
| Cough | 138 (44.5) | 128 (45.1) | 5 (50) | 5 (31.3) |
| SOB | 137 (44.2) | 124 (43.7) | 7 (70) | 6 (37.5) |
| Fatigue | 28 (9) | 23 (8.1) | 3 (30) | 2 (12.5) |
| Weakness | 24 (7.7) | 20 (7) | 2 (20) | 2 (12.5) |
| Diarrhea | 23 (7.4) | 21 (7.4) | 2 (20) | 0 (0) |
| Fever | 16 (5.2) | 13 (4.6) | 1 (10) | 2 (12.5) |
| Headache | 13 (4.2) | 12 (4.2) | 0 (0) | 1 (6.3) |
| Loss of taste/smell | 11 (3.5) | 10 (3.5) | 0 (0) | 1 (6.3) |
| Myalgia | 10 (3.2) | 9 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 1 (6.3) |
| Chest pain/tightness | 9 (2.9) | 5 (1.8) | 0 (0) | 4 (25) |
| Total (≥1 symptom) | 213 (68.7) | 194 (68.3) | 10 (100) | 9 (56.3) |
Abbreviations: DPH, department of public health; AMA, against medical advice; PT, physical therapy; OT, occupational therapy; NA, not applicable; PCP, primary care provider; SD, standard deviation; SOB, shortness of breath.
Specialists: cardiology, nephrology, urology, pulmonology, rheumatology, oncology, endocrinology, infectious disease, gastroenterology, psychiatry, surgery, neurology, palliative care.
High-risk caregiver: elderly or high-risk comorbidity specifically documented in the medical record.
Short-term medications: anticipated endpoint within 6-months.
Labs: complete blood count, complete metabolic panel, thyroid stimulating hormone, hemoglobin A1c, vitamin levels.
Imaging: chest x-ray, echocardiogram, chest computed tomography.