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. 2020 Aug:97:245-250.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.107. Epub 2020 May 31.

Clinical features and short-term outcomes of elderly patients with COVID-19

Affiliations

Clinical features and short-term outcomes of elderly patients with COVID-19

Ping Li et al. Int J Infect Dis. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Background: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global public health emergency.

Methods: 204 elderly patients (≥60 years old) diagnosed with COVID-19 in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 31st to February 20th, 2020 were included in this study. Clinical endpoint was in-hospital death.

Results: Of the 204 patients, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were the most common coexisting conditions. 76 patients died in the hospital. Multivariate analysis showed that dyspnea (hazards ratio (HR) 2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.414-3.517; p < 0.001), older age (HR 1.1, 95% CI 1.070-1.123; p < 0.001), neutrophilia (HR 4.4, 95% CI 1.310-15.061; p = 0.017) and elevated ultrasensitive cardiac troponin I (HR 3.9, 95% CI 1.471-10.433; p = 0.006) were independently associated with death.

Conclusion: Although so far the overall mortality of COVID-19 is relatively low, the mortality of elderly patients is much higher. Early diagnosis and supportive care are of great importance for the elderly patients of COVID-19.

Keywords: Clinical features; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Elderly; Short-term outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Symptoms of COVID-19 Reported at Admission to Hospital (N = 204).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Survival analysis showing time from admission to death by comorbid. conditions. COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CVS = cardiovascular disease; CRF = chronic renal failure.

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