The Risk of Readmission after Early Postpartum Discharge during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Am J Perinatol
; 39(4): 354-360, 2022 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1565753
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To determine whether early postpartum discharge during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was associated with a change in the odds of maternal postpartum readmissions. STUDYDESIGN:
This is a retrospective analysis of uncomplicated postpartum low-risk women in seven obstetrical units within a large New York health system. We compared the rate of postpartum readmissions within 6 weeks of delivery between two groups low-risk women who had early postpartum discharge as part of our protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic (April 1-June 15, 2020) and similar low-risk patients with routine postpartum discharge from the same study centers 1 year prior. Statistical analysis included the use of Wilcoxon's rank-sum and chi-squared tests, Nelson-Aalen cumulative hazard curves, and multivariate logistic regression.RESULTS:
Of the 8,206 patients included, 4,038 (49.2%) were patients who had early postpartum discharge during the COVID-19 pandemic and 4,168 (50.8%) were patients with routine postpartum discharge prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rates of postpartum readmissions after vaginal delivery (1.0 vs. 0.9%; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-1.45) and cesarean delivery (1.5 vs. 1.9%; adjusted OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.29-1.45) were similar between the two groups. Demographic risk factors for postpartum readmission included Medicaid insurance and obesity.CONCLUSION:
Early postpartum discharge during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with no change in the odds of maternal postpartum readmissions after low-risk vaginal or cesarean deliveries. Early postpartum discharge for low-risk patients to shorten hospital length of stay should be considered in the face of public health crises. KEY POINTS · Early postpartum discharge was not associated with an increase in odds of hospital readmissions after vaginal delivery.. · Early postpartum discharge was not associated with an increase in odds of hospital readmissions after cesarean delivery.. · Early postpartum discharge for low-risk patients should be considered during a public health crisis..
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Patient Discharge
/
Patient Readmission
/
Postnatal Care
/
Medicaid
/
Obesity, Maternal
/
COVID-19
/
Insurance, Health
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Perinatol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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