COVID-19 PATIENTS WHO DISCHARGE WITH HOME OXYGEN HAVE LOWER READMISSION RATES THAN COVID-19 PATIENTS WHO DISCHARGE WITHOUT OXYGEN
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore what the best care should be at discharge
after being diagnosed with COVID-19. This was a retrospective study using data from
electronic health records. Patients discharged to home with oxygen (O2) were less likely
to be readmitted within 30 days. Linear Regression was computed to determine variables
that could predict if discharge with and without O2 would affect readmission rates. When
adjustments were made for co-variants, it was determined that patients having been in the
ICU on the ventilator were 2.6 times more likely to be readmitted within 30 days.
However, COVID-19 patients needing O2 after discharge had reduced readmission rates.
Therefore, O2 at discharge for COVID-19 patients helps prevent readmissions within 30
days.