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Should COVID-19 patients >75 years be Ventilated? An Outcome Study
H Raheja1, N Chukwuka2, C Agarwal1
1Department of Cardiology, Maimonides Medical Center, 4802 Tenth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219, USA.
QJM : Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians
|February 13, 2021
Summary
Elderly patients aged 75 and older with COVID-19 face high mortality risks. Advanced age, dementia, and critical illness significantly increase mortality, while diarrhea may indicate better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Elderly individuals (≥75 years) are at higher risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19.
- Limited data exists on specific disease characteristics and outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify adverse factors associated with COVID-19 outcomes in patients aged 75 years and older.
- To analyze mortality predictors in elderly COVID-19 patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study design.
- Classification of disease severity based on oxygen requirements: mild/moderate, severe/very severe, and critical (intubated).
- Primary outcome measured: in-hospital mortality.
Main Results:
- The study included 355 patients (mean age 84.3 years).
- Overall in-hospital mortality was 57.2%, with significant variation by disease severity (17.4% mild/moderate to 94.9% critical).
- Independent predictors of mortality included advanced age, dementia, and critical disease; diarrhea was associated with decreased mortality (OR: 0.12).
Conclusions:
- Age and dementia are significant risk factors for mortality in elderly COVID-19 patients.
- Critical illness requiring intubation is associated with the highest mortality risk.
- Diarrhea as a symptom may be linked to a lower risk of mortality in this age group.
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