AUTHOR=Lee Woo-Ri , Yoo Ki-Bong , Lee Gyeong-Min , Koo Jun Hyuk , Kim Li-Hyun 

TITLE=Is Avoidable Hospitalization Experienced Prior to Infection Associated With COVID-19-Related Deaths?

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=67

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604426

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604426

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> This study aimed to determine the effect of the presence or absence of avoidable hospitalization before acquiring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on COVID-19-related deaths.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> This study used the total NHIS-COVID-19 dataset comprising domestic COVID-19 patients, provided by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in South Korea. We conducted logistic regression and double robust estimation (DRE) to confirm the effect of avoidable hospitalization on COVID-19-related deaths.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Logistic regression analysis confirmed that the odds ratio (OR) of death due to COVID-19 was high in the group that experienced avoidable hospitalization. DRE analysis showed a higher OR of death due to COVID-19 in the group that experienced avoidable hospitalization compared to the group that did not experience avoidable hospitalization, except in the subgroup aged ≤69 years.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> The effect of avoidable hospitalization on COVID-19-related deaths was confirmed. Therefore, continued health care, preventive medicine, and public health management are essential for reducing avoidable hospitalizations despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians need to be informed about the importance of continuous disease management.</p>