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. 2020 Oct;11(5):829-841.
doi: 10.1007/s41999-020-00359-2. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Clinical presentation and outcome across age categories among patients with COVID-19 admitted to a Spanish Emergency Department

F Javier Martín-Sánchez  1   2   3 , Enrique Del Toro  4 , Eduardo Cardassay  4 , Adrián Valls Carbó  5 , Federico Cuesta  6 , Marta Vigara  6 , Pedro Gil  6 , Amanda López López Picado  7 , Carmen Martínez Valero  7 , Juande D Miranda  8 , Pedro Lopez-Ayala  9 , David Chaparro  4 , Gabriel Cozar López  4 , María Del Mar Suárez-Cadenas  4   7 , Pablo Jerez Fernández  4 , Beatriz Angós  4 , Cristina Díaz Del Arco  10 , Esther Rodríguez Adrada  7 , María Teresa Montalvo Moraleda  5 , Carolina Espejo Paeres  11 , Cesáreo Fernández Alonso  4   7 , Carlos Elvira  12 , Ana Chacón  12 , Miguel Ángel García Briñón  4   7 , José Luis Fernández Rueda  13 , Luis Ortega  10 , Cristina Fernández Pérez  14 , Juan Jorge González Armengol  4   15   7 , Juan González Del Castillo  4   7
Affiliations

Clinical presentation and outcome across age categories among patients with COVID-19 admitted to a Spanish Emergency Department

F Javier Martín-Sánchez et al. Eur Geriatr Med. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the differences by age-dependent categories in the clinical profile, presentation, management, and short-term outcomes of patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to a Spanish Emergency Department (ED).

Methods: Secondary analysis of COVID-19_URG-HCSC registry. We included all consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the ED of the University Hospital Clinico San Carlos (Madrid, Spain). The population was divided into six age groups. Demographic, baseline and acute clinical data, and in-hospital and 30-day outcomes were collected.

Results: 1379 confirmed COVID-19 cases (mean age 62 (SD 18) years old; 53.5% male) were included (18.1% < 45 years; 17.8% 45-54 years; 17.9% 55-64 years; 17.2% 65-74 years; 17.0% 75-84 years; and 11.9% ≥ 85 years). A statistically significant association was found between demographic, comorbidity, clinical, radiographic, analytical, and therapeutic variables and short-term results according to age-dependent categories. There were less COVID-specific symptoms and more atypical symptoms among older people. Age was a prognostic factor for hospital admission (aOR = 1.04; 95% CI 1.02-1.05) and in-hospital (aOR = 1.08; 95% CI 1.05-1.10) and 30-day mortality (aOR = 1.07; 95% CI 1.04-1.09), and was associated with not being admitted to intensive care (aOR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.93-0.98).

Conclusions: Older age is associated with less COVID-specific symptoms and more atypical symptoms, and poor short-term outcomes. Age has independent prognostic value and may help in shared decision-making in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: Age; COVID-19; Emergency department; Older.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have nothing to disclose in relationship with this manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of patient inclusion
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Cumulative 30-day mortality curves for each age group
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Estimated unadjusted and adjusted Odds ratios for the association between age, as continues variables, and different outcomes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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