Role of Oral Intake, Mobility, and Activity Measures in Informing Discharge Recommendations for Hospitalized Inmate and Noninmate Patients With COVID-19: Retrospective Analysis.
Matthew S Briggs, Erin Shevawn Kolbus, Kevin Michael Patterson and 5 others
PMID 37224276WHAT IT FOUND
Baseline swallowing and mobility scores did not predict discharge outcomes for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Older age made a normal diet less likely, but being incarcerated, female, or of 'Other' race predicted returning to the same facility, likely due to social factors rather than clinical function.
Key findings
01Initial functional scores (FOIS and AM-PAC) did not predict whether patients were discharged to the same destination or achieved a normal diet.
02Being incarcerated, female, or of 'Other' race significantly increased the odds of being discharged to the same admission source.
03Greater age decreased the odds of being discharged with a total oral diet with no restrictions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted at a single academic medical center during the first wave of the pandemic, limiting generalizability. The sample size was small (83 patients), particularly for the 'Other' race category, making those regression results unstable. The study excluded patients who died or were placed on comfort care, which may bias the results toward those with better outcomes. Discharge destination for inmates is heavily constrained by correctional facility rules, which may confound the relationship between clinical status and discharge location.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the higher odds of same-source discharge for inmates or 'Other' races as evidence of superior clinical recovery. These outcomes likely reflect systemic constraints and social determinants of health rather than better functional status.