Re-presentations to the emergency department initial presentation with COVID-19: Insights from the omicron wave
Background: Relapsing symptoms post-SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) infection, particularly with variants like Omicron, remain poorly understood and cumulative mortality rates are in the millions worldwide. Re-presentation rates to emergency departments (ED) post initial presentation are poorly defined. Objectiv...
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | JEM Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773232025000112 |
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| author | Daniella Audish George Braitberg Anselm Wong |
| author_facet | Daniella Audish George Braitberg Anselm Wong |
| author_sort | Daniella Audish |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Relapsing symptoms post-SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) infection, particularly with variants like Omicron, remain poorly understood and cumulative mortality rates are in the millions worldwide. Re-presentation rates to emergency departments (ED) post initial presentation are poorly defined. Objectives: To identify the frequency and characteristics of ED re-presentations during the six months post initial COVID-19 admission. Methodology: A retrospective chart review of patients with a positive COVID-19 PCR result and initial ED presentation at the Austin hospital in Victoria, Australia during January–February 2022 (wave one) and March–April 2022 (wave two). Subsequent ED re-presentations up to six months from initial admission were analyzed, concentrating on symptoms, diagnoses and mortalities. Results: Of 926 wave one patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 162 (18 %) had subsequent ED presentations. For wave two, out of 556 patients, 129 (23 %) had re-presentations. The highest number of re-presentations for an individual were 24 and 11 for waves one and two respectively. Shortness of breath was the most common symptom for re-presentation during both waves (21 % and 19 % respectively), followed by cough. Additionally, 79 % of wave one patients and 29 % of wave two patients had respiratory-related comorbidities. Twelve percent of patients died within six months of the initial COVID-19 related presentation in wave one compared to 7 % in wave two. Conclusion: Re-presentation rates were similar to previous COVID waves with the alpha and delta variants. Respiratory symptoms and related diagnoses were common. Strengthening public health strategies is vital to curb transmission, alleviate strain on hospitals, and prevent further morbidity and mortality. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c6c39cfa545249b4895d85e767f863bd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2773-2320 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JEM Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-c6c39cfa545249b4895d85e767f863bd2025-02-10T04:35:34ZengElsevierJEM Reports2773-23202025-03-0141100147Re-presentations to the emergency department initial presentation with COVID-19: Insights from the omicron waveDaniella Audish0George Braitberg1Anselm Wong2Department of Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Emergency Department, Austin Health, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Critical Care, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Emergency Department, Austin Health, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Corresponding author. Emergency Department, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.Background: Relapsing symptoms post-SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) infection, particularly with variants like Omicron, remain poorly understood and cumulative mortality rates are in the millions worldwide. Re-presentation rates to emergency departments (ED) post initial presentation are poorly defined. Objectives: To identify the frequency and characteristics of ED re-presentations during the six months post initial COVID-19 admission. Methodology: A retrospective chart review of patients with a positive COVID-19 PCR result and initial ED presentation at the Austin hospital in Victoria, Australia during January–February 2022 (wave one) and March–April 2022 (wave two). Subsequent ED re-presentations up to six months from initial admission were analyzed, concentrating on symptoms, diagnoses and mortalities. Results: Of 926 wave one patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 162 (18 %) had subsequent ED presentations. For wave two, out of 556 patients, 129 (23 %) had re-presentations. The highest number of re-presentations for an individual were 24 and 11 for waves one and two respectively. Shortness of breath was the most common symptom for re-presentation during both waves (21 % and 19 % respectively), followed by cough. Additionally, 79 % of wave one patients and 29 % of wave two patients had respiratory-related comorbidities. Twelve percent of patients died within six months of the initial COVID-19 related presentation in wave one compared to 7 % in wave two. Conclusion: Re-presentation rates were similar to previous COVID waves with the alpha and delta variants. Respiratory symptoms and related diagnoses were common. Strengthening public health strategies is vital to curb transmission, alleviate strain on hospitals, and prevent further morbidity and mortality.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773232025000112COVID-19Long COVIDOmicronCOVID-19 complicationsPandemic |
| spellingShingle | Daniella Audish George Braitberg Anselm Wong Re-presentations to the emergency department initial presentation with COVID-19: Insights from the omicron wave JEM Reports COVID-19 Long COVID Omicron COVID-19 complications Pandemic |
| title | Re-presentations to the emergency department initial presentation with COVID-19: Insights from the omicron wave |
| title_full | Re-presentations to the emergency department initial presentation with COVID-19: Insights from the omicron wave |
| title_fullStr | Re-presentations to the emergency department initial presentation with COVID-19: Insights from the omicron wave |
| title_full_unstemmed | Re-presentations to the emergency department initial presentation with COVID-19: Insights from the omicron wave |
| title_short | Re-presentations to the emergency department initial presentation with COVID-19: Insights from the omicron wave |
| title_sort | re presentations to the emergency department initial presentation with covid 19 insights from the omicron wave |
| topic | COVID-19 Long COVID Omicron COVID-19 complications Pandemic |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773232025000112 |
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