Objective The national health systems are currently facing the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. We assessed the efficacy of outpatient management for patients with SARS-CoV-2 related pneumonia at risk of progression after discharge from the emergency department. Methods This was a single-center prospective study. We enrolled patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, without hypoxemic respiratory failure, and at least one of the following: age ≥ 65 years or the presence of relevant comorbidities or pneumonia extension > 25% on high resolution computed tomography. Patients with pneumonia extension > 50% were excluded. An ambulatory visit was performed after at least 48 hours, when patients were either discharged, admitted, or deferred for a further visit. As a control, we evaluated a comparable historical cohort of hospitalized patients. Results A total of 84 patients were enrolled (51 male patients; mean age, 62.8 years). Two-thirds of the patients had at least one comorbidity and 41.6% had a lung involvement > 25% on high resolution computed tomography; the mean duration of symptoms was 8.0±3.0 days, and the mean PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 357.5±38.6. At the end of the follow-up period, 69 patients had been discharged, and 15 were hospitalized (mean stay of 6 days). Older age and higher National Early Warning Score 2 were significant predictors of hospitalization at the first follow-up visit. One hospitalized patient died of septic shock. In the control group, the mean hospital stay was 8 days. Conclusion Adopting a “discharge and early revaluation” strategy appears to be safe, feasible, and may optimize hospital resources during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Discharge from the emergency department and early hospital revaluation in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: a prospective study / Mattioli, M.; Benfaremo, D.; Fulgenzi, F.; Gennarini, S.; Mucci, L.; Giorgino, F.; Frausini, G.; Moroncini, G.; Gnudi, U.. - In: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL EMERGENCY MEDICINE. - ISSN 2383-4625. - 9:1(2022), pp. 10-17. [10.15441/ceem.21.131]

Discharge from the emergency department and early hospital revaluation in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: a prospective study

Mattioli M.
Co-primo
;
Benfaremo D.
Co-primo
;
Fulgenzi F.;Mucci L.;Moroncini G.
Ultimo
;
2022-01-01

Abstract

Objective The national health systems are currently facing the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. We assessed the efficacy of outpatient management for patients with SARS-CoV-2 related pneumonia at risk of progression after discharge from the emergency department. Methods This was a single-center prospective study. We enrolled patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, without hypoxemic respiratory failure, and at least one of the following: age ≥ 65 years or the presence of relevant comorbidities or pneumonia extension > 25% on high resolution computed tomography. Patients with pneumonia extension > 50% were excluded. An ambulatory visit was performed after at least 48 hours, when patients were either discharged, admitted, or deferred for a further visit. As a control, we evaluated a comparable historical cohort of hospitalized patients. Results A total of 84 patients were enrolled (51 male patients; mean age, 62.8 years). Two-thirds of the patients had at least one comorbidity and 41.6% had a lung involvement > 25% on high resolution computed tomography; the mean duration of symptoms was 8.0±3.0 days, and the mean PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 357.5±38.6. At the end of the follow-up period, 69 patients had been discharged, and 15 were hospitalized (mean stay of 6 days). Older age and higher National Early Warning Score 2 were significant predictors of hospitalization at the first follow-up visit. One hospitalized patient died of septic shock. In the control group, the mean hospital stay was 8 days. Conclusion Adopting a “discharge and early revaluation” strategy appears to be safe, feasible, and may optimize hospital resources during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11566/299906
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