P5‐32: Investigation of exacerbation factors in patients with coronavirus disease 2019

Background and Aims: Hospitalization is required in some patients with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during residential or home care; however, risk factors for hospitalization among them remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate these risk factors. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of adults aged ≥20 years who were diagnosed with mild COVID-19 and triaged for residential or home care at a COVID-19 triage clinic between April 1, 2021 and May 26, 2021. Results: In total, 333 patients were diagnosed with mild COVID-19 at the triage clinic during the study period; of them, 34 (10.2%) patients were hospitalized during residential and home care. Hospitalized patients were older (59.2 vs. 43.0 years; p<0.01) and had higher body mass index (26.0 vs. 23.3 kg/m; p=0.01) than the non-hospitalized patients. The former exhibited tachypnea (20.9 vs. 17.5 breaths/min; p=0.019) and had higher body temperature (37.7 C vs. 36.9 C; p<0.01) and heart rate (95.0 vs 86.2 bpm; p=0.01) and lower oxygen saturation (SpO2; 93.1% vs 97.2%; p=0.007) than the latter. In the hospitalized patients, major symptoms at arrival were dyspnea (p<0.01), fatigue (p=0.021), anorexia (p<0.01), diarrhea (p=0.042), and dyskinesia (p=0.008); moreover, diabetes mellitus (p=0.025), cardiovascular disease (p=0.01), and chronic liver disease (p=0.028) were the common underlying diseases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed significant correlations of hospitalization with old age (p=0.01), low SpO2 (p<0.01), dyspnea (p<0.01), and anorexia (p=0. 01) at arrival. Conclusions: In COVID-19 outpatient triage, patients, especially the elderly, with dyspnea and anorexia must be monitored as they are more likely to require subsequent hospitalization.