Factors associated with Hospitalization among COVID-19 Home Quarantine Patients in Melaka Tengah District, Melaka, Malaysia

   Background: COVID-19 is an emerging new disease, recognized in late 2019, has since caused public health pandemic worldwide. Since the establishment of the COVID-19 Assessment Centre (CAC), cases were staged in terms of the severity. The mild cases were allowed for home quarantine and the severe cases were hospitalized. This study will assist healthcare providers to identify the high-risk patients and anticipate proactively, reducing morbidity and mortality. The study aimed to determine the incidence rate of hospitalization among home quarantined patients and its associated factors.  Methods: A case-control study design was conducted from 16th August until 30th September 2021 involving newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients under the CAC Melaka Tengah monitoring. A case was defined as home quarantined patient whom later required hospitalization, while a control was defined as home quarantined patient throughout the period. Analysis using Chi-square and Multiple Logistic Regression were done to determine the significant associated factors.  Results: There were 13,748 COVID-19 patients; with 8,237 were home quarantined and 82 required hospitalization later (1.0%). A total of 164 patients were included (82 cases and 82 controls). Among the hospitalized, 30.5% were aged 60 and above, 39.0% with comorbidity, 70.7% were symptomatic, and 40.2% were fully vaccinated. From the analysis, the only significant factor associated with hospitalization was age > 60 years old (p<0.05).  Conclusion: There were home quarantined patients that required hospitalization later, especially the elderly patients. Thus, the CAC team should give priority for hospital admission to these cases instead of home quarantine order.