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=Volume 67 - 2022

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=Objectives: The present 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 in these patients. This study intends to inform clinicians about the importance of continuous disease management.
Methods: We performed data analysis using the doubly robust estimation (DRE) method with inverse probability of treatment weighting to increase the level of evidence. We also performed logistic regression analysis.
Results: The results of 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, except in the group aged <70 years.
Conclusion: Based on our findings, it was possible to confirm the importance of continuous management of underlying diseases and the importance of primary care. Therefore, preventive medicine and public health management are essential for the ongoing health management despite the COVID-19 pandemic.