Re-presentations to the emergency department post COVID-19 admission in Australia
Background: Little is known on the frequency and nature of re-presentations to emergency departments post initial COVID admission. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics and outcomes of patients with subsequent presentations to an Emergency Department (ED) following po...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-09-01
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| Series: | JEM Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773232023000457 |
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| author | Zahra Al Haloob George Braitberg Anthony Tu Tran Joe Anthony Rotella Anselm Wong |
| author_facet | Zahra Al Haloob George Braitberg Anthony Tu Tran Joe Anthony Rotella Anselm Wong |
| author_sort | Zahra Al Haloob |
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| description | Background: Little is known on the frequency and nature of re-presentations to emergency departments post initial COVID admission. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics and outcomes of patients with subsequent presentations to an Emergency Department (ED) following positive COVID-19 PCR diagnosis. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients admitted to Austin Health ED who had a confirmed positive COVID-19 PCR, for the period July 2020–August 2020 and October 2021 was undertaken. All patients who had a re-presentation 6 months post initial hospital discharge were included. The primary outcomes were number of subsequent presentations, diagnoses and symptoms. Results: Among the 254 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 127 tested positive during the 2020 period, and 126 tested positive during the 2021 period. During the 2020 period, 17 of 127 (13%) patients had subsequent presentations to ED. During October 2021, 23 of 126 (18%) patients had subsequent presentations to ED. There were often multiple re-presentations to ED (range 2–9). During both periods, the most common representing symptom was shortness of breath (2020: 60% vs 2021: 59%). The most common re-presentation diagnosis was Post COVID syndrome (12% in 2020 vs 10% in 2021). Conclusion: There was a high proportion of ED re-presentations post initial COVID admission, with patients often having multiple re-presentations. Post COVID syndrome was the commonest re-presentation diagnosis. This and other complications have the potential to become more frequently diagnosed in the coming years contributing to the increasing demand on emergency departments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4961149b65a4243829b74a89ff37ebb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2773-2320 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JEM Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-e4961149b65a4243829b74a89ff37ebb2024-11-22T07:40:22ZengElsevierJEM Reports2773-23202023-09-0123100049Re-presentations to the emergency department post COVID-19 admission in AustraliaZahra Al Haloob0George Braitberg1Anthony Tu Tran2Joe Anthony Rotella3Anselm Wong4Department of Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Emergency Department, Austin Health, Victoria, AustraliaMelbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Emergency Department, Northern Health, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Emergency Department, Austin Health, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Corresponding author. Emergency Department, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.Background: Little is known on the frequency and nature of re-presentations to emergency departments post initial COVID admission. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics and outcomes of patients with subsequent presentations to an Emergency Department (ED) following positive COVID-19 PCR diagnosis. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients admitted to Austin Health ED who had a confirmed positive COVID-19 PCR, for the period July 2020–August 2020 and October 2021 was undertaken. All patients who had a re-presentation 6 months post initial hospital discharge were included. The primary outcomes were number of subsequent presentations, diagnoses and symptoms. Results: Among the 254 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 127 tested positive during the 2020 period, and 126 tested positive during the 2021 period. During the 2020 period, 17 of 127 (13%) patients had subsequent presentations to ED. During October 2021, 23 of 126 (18%) patients had subsequent presentations to ED. There were often multiple re-presentations to ED (range 2–9). During both periods, the most common representing symptom was shortness of breath (2020: 60% vs 2021: 59%). The most common re-presentation diagnosis was Post COVID syndrome (12% in 2020 vs 10% in 2021). Conclusion: There was a high proportion of ED re-presentations post initial COVID admission, with patients often having multiple re-presentations. Post COVID syndrome was the commonest re-presentation diagnosis. This and other complications have the potential to become more frequently diagnosed in the coming years contributing to the increasing demand on emergency departments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773232023000457COVID-19PandemicLong COVIDCOVID complications |
| spellingShingle | Zahra Al Haloob George Braitberg Anthony Tu Tran Joe Anthony Rotella Anselm Wong Re-presentations to the emergency department post COVID-19 admission in Australia JEM Reports COVID-19 Pandemic Long COVID COVID complications |
| title | Re-presentations to the emergency department post COVID-19 admission in Australia |
| title_full | Re-presentations to the emergency department post COVID-19 admission in Australia |
| title_fullStr | Re-presentations to the emergency department post COVID-19 admission in Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Re-presentations to the emergency department post COVID-19 admission in Australia |
| title_short | Re-presentations to the emergency department post COVID-19 admission in Australia |
| title_sort | re presentations to the emergency department post covid 19 admission in australia |
| topic | COVID-19 Pandemic Long COVID COVID complications |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773232023000457 |
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