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. 2022 Dec 28;50(1):100.
doi: 10.1186/s41182-022-00491-8.

Factors associated with prolonged hospitalization of patients with corona virus disease (COVID-19) in Uganda: a retrospective cohort study

Prossie M Ingabire  1 , Ritah Nantale  2 , Quraish Sserwanja  3 , Susan Nakireka  4   5 , Milton W Musaba  6   7 , Asad Muyinda  8 , Criscent Tumuhaise  9 , Edith Namulema  10 , Felix Bongomin  11 , Agnes Napyo  12 , Rozen Ainembabazi  13 , Ronald Olum  1 , Ian Munabi  14 , Sarah Kiguli  15 , David Mukunya  12
Affiliations

Factors associated with prolonged hospitalization of patients with corona virus disease (COVID-19) in Uganda: a retrospective cohort study

Prossie M Ingabire et al. Trop Med Health. .

Abstract

Introduction: Identification of factors predicting prolonged hospitalization of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) guides the planning, care and flow of patients in the COVID-19 Treatment Units (CTUs). We determined the length of hospital stay and factors associated with prolonged hospitalization among patients with COVID-19 at six CTUs in Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted with COVID-19 between January and December 2021 in six CTUs in Uganda. We conducted generalized linear regression models of the binomial family with a log link and robust variance estimation to estimate risk ratios of selected exposure variables and prolonged hospitalization (defined as a hospital stay for 14 days or more). We also conducted negative binomial regression models with robust variance to estimate the rate ratios between selected exposures and hospitalization duration.

Results: Data from 968 participants were analyzed. The median length of hospitalization was 5 (range: 1-89) days. A total of 136/968 (14.1%: 95% confidence interval (CI): 11.9-16.4%) patients had prolonged hospitalization. Hospitalization in a public facility (adjusted risk ratio (ARR) = 2.49, 95% CI: 1.65-3.76), critical COVID-19 severity scores (ARR = 3.24: 95% CI: 1.01-10.42), and malaria co-infection (adjusted incident rate ratio (AIRR) = 0.67: 95% CI: 0.55-0.83) were associated with prolonged hospitalization.

Conclusion: One out of seven COVID-19 patients had prolonged hospitalization. Healthcare providers in public health facilities should watch out for unnecessary hospitalization. We encourage screening for possible co-morbidities such as malaria among patients admitted for COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Length of hospital stay; Prolonged hospitalization.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Symptoms comparison between patients hospitalized for 14 days or more and those who were hospitalized for less than 14 days.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Quantile plot showing days of hospitalization of COVID-19 patients in six hospitals in Uganda
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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