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Review
. 2020 Aug;32(8):1599-1608.
doi: 10.1007/s40520-020-01631-y. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

COVID-19 and the elderly: insights into pathogenesis and clinical decision-making

Fabio Perrotta  1 , Graziamaria Corbi  2   3 , Grazia Mazzeo  4   5 , Matilde Boccia  4 , Luigi Aronne  4 , Vito D'Agnano  4 , Klara Komici  2   3 , Gennaro Mazzarella  4 , Roberto Parrella  6 , Andrea Bianco  4   5
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19 and the elderly: insights into pathogenesis and clinical decision-making

Fabio Perrotta et al. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2020 Aug.

Erratum in

Abstract

The elderly may represent a specific cluster of high-risk patients for developing COVID-19 with rapidly progressive clinical deterioration. Indeed, in older individuals, immunosenescence and comorbid disorders are more likely to promote viral-induced cytokine storm resulting in life-threatening respiratory failure and multisystemic involvement. Early diagnosis and individualized therapeutic management should be developed for elderly subjects based on personal medical history and polypharmacotherapy. Our review examines the pathogenesis and clinical implications of ageing in COVID-19 patients; finally, we discuss the evidence and controversies in the management in the long-stay residential care homes and aspects of end-of-life care for elderly patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19 Elderly patients; Coronavirus; Nursing homes; Palliation; Sars-Cov-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare with the present manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Proposed risk factors and pathogenetic mechanisms underlying increased mortality among elderly with SARS-CoV-2 infection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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