Mortality risk of COVID-19 in elderly males with comorbidities: a multi-country study

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Gerontology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant global morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding risk factors for mortality is crucial for effective patient management.
• This study focuses on patients not treated with dexamethasone or remdesivir.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients.
• To analyze demographic and comorbidity data across different geographical regions.
• To investigate the impact of age, gender, and comorbidities on COVID-19 survival.

Main Methods:

• Multi-country cohort study analyzing 568 survivors and 507 non-survivors.
• Comparative analysis of demographic data (age, gender) and comorbidities.
• Survival analysis to identify mortality-associated factors and survival time differences.

Main Results:

• Elderly males (≥70 years) were disproportionately represented among non-survivors across China, Europe, and North America.
• Non-survivors exhibited higher incidences of cerebrovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Age, male gender, shortness of breath, cerebrovascular disease, and COPD were identified as significant mortality-associated factors.

Conclusions:

• Elderly males with COVID-19, particularly those with comorbidities, face a substantially elevated mortality risk.
• Shorter survival times were observed in elderly, male, and comorbid patients.
• Findings underscore the need for targeted early prevention and critical care strategies for elderly populations, especially males with pre-existing conditions.