LAUSR

Key Points Question How do COVID-19 hospitalizations for people experiencing incarceration or homelessness compare with those among the general US population? Findings In a cross-sectional study using hospital discharge records from more than 800 hospitals, people experiencing incarceration who were evaluated in the emergency department had a higher frequency of hospitalization, invasive mechanical ventilation, mortality, and readmissions, as well as longer lengths of stay, compared with the general population. People experiencing homelessness who were evaluated in the emergency department had a higher frequency of hospitalization and readmissions, a lower frequency of invasive mechanical ventilation and mortality, and longer lengths of stay compared with the general population. Meaning This study suggests that expanding medical respite may reduce hospitalizations or shorten the length of stay for COVID-19 for people experiencing incarceration or homelessness who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic.