David Alberti (Israel)
Shamir Medical Center Internal Medicine AAuthor of 1 Presentation
HOSPITALIZATION OUTCOMES OF NON-COVID-19 PATIENTS ADMITTED TO INTERNAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC COMPARED TO PRE-PANDEMIC ERA
Abstract
Background and Aims
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the hospitalization outcomes of non-COVID-19 patients is not known.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of characteristics and hospitalization outcomes of patients hospitalized at Shamir medical center between March 19th, 2019 to April 16th, 2019, and during the first COVID-19 lockdown from March 19th, 2020 to April 16th, 2020.
Results
During the lockdown, 544 non-COVID patients were hospitalized in internal medicine wards compared with 903 patients in the same period the previous year. During the lockdown, hospitalized patients came more often from long-term facilities and were more frequently dependent. Also, patients of the 2020 period had a higher Charlson mortality index score. The cause of admission was significantly more often infectious (mainly pneumonia). Length of hospitalization was significantly shorter. Interestingly, admission during lockdown was independently associated with in-hospital, 30 and 90 days mortality; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for in-hospital mortality was 1.57 (95%CI 1.059-2.339 p=0.025), aOR for 30 days mortality was 1.64 (95%CI 1.12-2.41 p=0.011) and aOR for 90 days mortality was 1.5 (95%CI 1.073-2.12 p=0.018).
Conclusions
A substantial decrease in non-COVID-19 hospitalizations to internal medicine departments was found during the lockdown. Significant differences in baseline characteristics cause for admission and length of hospitalization were noted. Hospitalization during the lockdown was independently associated with an increase in short-term mortality. Due to the lack of studies examining out-of-hospital mortality, it is hard to conclude the reasons for these findings. Studies should further investigate the effect of the pandemic on the non-COVID population.