Background
Major organ complications have been reported in patients hospitalised for COVID-19; most studies lacked controls.
Objective
Examine major organ damage postdischarge among adults hospitalised for COVID-19 versus non-COVID-19 controls.
Data sources
MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Library from 1 January 2020 to 19 May 2021.
Study eligibility criteria
English language studies of adults discharged from hospital for COVID-19; reporting major organ damage. Single review of abstracts; independent dual review of full text.
Study appraisal and synthesis methods
Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Appraisal Checklist for Cohort Studies. Outcome data were not pooled due to heterogeneity in populations, study designs and outcome assessment methods; findings are narratively synthesised.
Results
Of 124 studies in a full evidence report, 9 included non-COVID controls and are described here. Four of the nine (three USA, one UK) used large administrative databases. Four of the remaining five studies enrolled