Analysis of Risk Factors on Readmission Cases of COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea: Using Nationwide Health Claims Data

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 17; no. 16; p. 5844
• Main Authors: Jeon, Woo-Hwi, Seon, Jeong Yeon, Park, So-Youn, Oh, In-Hwan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 12.08.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Ambulatory care; Betacoronavirus; Chi-Square Distribution; Chi-square test; Child; Child, Preschool; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Comorbidity; Computed tomography; Coronaviridae; Coronavirus; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Datasets; Dementia; Diabetes; Disease prevention; Female; Gender; Health Expenditures - statistics & numerical data; Health insurance; Health Resources - statistics & numerical data; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Hypertension; Infant; Insurance Claim Review - statistics & numerical data; Lopinavir; Male; Medical aid; Medical research; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Patient Readmission - statistics & numerical data; Patients; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Radiographs; Radiography; Regression analysis; Republic of Korea - epidemiology; Researchers; Resource utilization; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Risk management; Ritonavir; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Statistical tests; Studies; Variables; Viral diseases; Young Adult; Republic of Korea; South Korea; China; COVID-19; readmission; risk factors
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165844

In South Korea, 4.5% patients of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were readmitted to hospitals after discharge. However, there is insufficient research on risk factors for readmission and management of patients after discharge is poor. In this study, 7590 confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients were defined as a target for analysis using nationwide medical claims data. The demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, and the use of medical resources were used to examine the association with readmission through the chi-square test and then logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze factors affecting readmission. Of the 7590 subjects analyzed, 328 patients were readmitted. The readmission rates of men, older age and patients with medical benefits showed a high risk of readmission. The Charlson Comorbidity Index score was also related to COVID-19 readmission. Concerning requiring medical attention, there was a higher risk of readmission for the patients with chest radiographs, computed tomography scans taken and lopinavir/ritonavir at the time of their first admission. Considering the risk factors presented in this study, classifying patients with a high risk of readmission and managing patients before and after discharge based on priority can make patient management and medical resource utilization more efficient. This study also indicates the importance of lifestyle management after discharge.