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Background: "Hospitels" are hotels that have been specially converted to healthcare facilities. Their utilization emerged as a resource-optimization strategy during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand. This study evaluated the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and admission costs of asymptomatic and mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients treated in these facilities., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of adult COVID-19 patients who were admitted between July and October 2021 to two hospitels in Bangkok that were affiliated with Siriraj Hospital. Patient demographics, clinical data, vaccination status, treatment modalities, outcomes, and total costs were collected and analyzed via univariable and multivariable statistical methods., Results: Of the 1729 patients, 644 (37.2%) presented with abnormal baseline chest X-rays that could imply to moderate cases. These patients were older (49.2 vs. 42.2 years, P < 0.001), had greater body weights (68.1 vs. 64.7 kg, P < 0.001) and body mass indices (26.3 vs. 24.9 kg/m 2 , P < 0.001), and more frequently presented comorbidities. They demonstrated an increased risk for severe COVID-19 (P < 0.001), lower full vaccination rates (P < 0.001), and higher hospital referral rates (P < 0.001). Symptomatology was largely comparable between patients with normal and abnormal baseline chest X-rays, with significant differences noted only for cough and fatigue. While the admission costs of both groups were similar, the total costs for referred patients were sixfold greater than those for discharged patients (70 545 vs. 12 010 Thai Baht, P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Compared with patients with normal baseline chest X-rays, COVID-19 patients with abnormal chest X-rays admitted to hospitels presented higher comorbidity rates, greater severe disease risk, and increased hospital referral rates. Referrals from the hospitels back to Siriraj Hospital substantially escalated the total costs. Vigilant monitoring of patients with initial abnormal chest X-rays in hospitels is crucial for efficient management and resource allocation., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University (protocol code: 731/2564(IRB3); IRB certificate of approval number: Si 732/2021; approval date: March 14, 2023). Consent to participate was waived due to the retrospective nature of the study by the Institutional Review Board of the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Few studies have identified the metabolic consequences of the post-acute phase of nonsevere COVID-19. This prospective study examined metabolic outcomes and associated factors in nonsevere, RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19. The participants' metabolic parameters, the prevalence of long-term multiple metabolic abnormalities (≥ 2 components), and factors influencing the prevalence were assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months post-onset. Six hundred individuals (mean age 45.5 ± 14.5 years, 61.7% female, 38% high-risk individuals) with nonsevere COVID-19 attended at least one follow-up visit. The prevalence of worsening metabolic abnormalities was 26.0% for BMI, 43.2% for glucose, 40.5% for LDL-c, 19.1% for liver, and 14.8% for C-reactive protein. Except for lipids, metabolic-component abnormalities were more prevalent in high-risk hosts than in healthy individuals. The prevalence of multiple metabolic abnormalities at the 6-month follow-up was 41.3% and significantly higher in high-risk than healthy hosts (49.2% vs 36.5%; P = 0.007). Factors independently associated with a lower risk of these abnormalities were being female, having dyslipidemia, and receiving at least 3 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. These findings suggest that multiple metabolic abnormalities are the long-term consequences of COVID-19. For both high-risk and healthy individuals with nonsevere COVID-19, healthcare providers should monitor metabolic profiles, encourage healthy behaviors, and ensure complete vaccination., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

This study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics of patients who registered at the Siriraj Favipiravir Clinic and to share our experiences in this comparatively unique clinical setting. This retrospective study included patients who registered at the Siriraj Favipiravir Clinic during August 11, 2021 to September 14, 2021. Included adult patients were those with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) infection confirmed by antigen test kit (ATK) or real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, no favipiravir contraindication, no prior COVID-19 treatment, and not receiving care from another medical facility. Demographic data and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Of the 1168 patients (mean age: 44.8 ± 16.4 years, 55.7% female) who registered at the clinic, 117 (10%) did not meet the treatment criteria, and 141 (12%) patients did not pick up their medication. One-third of patients had at least 1 symptom that indicated severe disease. Higher proportion of unvaccinated status (56.7% vs 47.5%, P = .005), higher proportion of persons with risk factors for disease progression (37.7% vs 31.3%, P = .028), and longer duration between the date of clinic registration and the date of positive diagnostic test (3 vs 2 days, P = .004) were significantly more commonly observed in the severe disease group compared to the nonsevere disease group. The duration between symptom onset and the date of clinic registration was significantly longer in the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction group than in the ATK group (6 vs 4 days, P < .001). Most patients (90.0%) had completed favipiravir treatment regimen. The improvement and mortality rates were 86.7% and 1.2%, respectively. COVID-19 severity is associated with vaccination status, baseline risk factors, and timing between disease detection and treatment. The use of ATK influences patients to seek treatment significantly earlier in ambulatory setting. Our early diagnosis and antiviral treatment strategy yielded favorable results in an outpatient setting during a COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)