Comparative clinical characteristics among different age group of adult COVID-19 patients: A multicenter study

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a global infectious disease with a large burden of illness and high health care costs. This study aimed to compare clinical features among adult COVID-19 patients in different age groups.

Laboratory-confirmed adult COVID-19 infection cases between December 31, 2019 to March 8, 2020 obtained from Neighboring Cities. Patients were divided into five age groups. Clinical characteristics were compared among different age groups.

Of 299 cases, median age was 44 and 158 (53%) were male. A total of 53.3% of 30-40 years, 50% of 40-50 years, 36.6% of <30 years and 36.2% of 50-60 years were primary case, none of the elderly were primary case. Among all the observed symptoms, only symptom of dyspnea was significantly different between the elderly group and other groups (p < .001). Proportion of severe or critical type was 2.4%, 5.3%, 9.5%, 14.5%, and 35% in patients with age <30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-65, ≥65, respectively. A total of 285 patients (95.3%) were cured and discharged, 12 patients (4.0%) were still on medical treatment in hospital. There were 2 (0.7%) deaths which occurred among persons ≥65 years. Patients with a history of chronic heart disease had a more than a 56 times higher risk for severe or critical type of COVID-19 than those without a history of chronic heart disease (odds ratio [OR]: 56.038, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.764-1136.053, p = .009). Old age (OR: 1.055, 95% CI: 1.016-1.095, p = .006), high heart rate in admission (OR: 1.085, 95% CI: 1.03-1.144, p = .002), high respiratory rate in admission (OR: 1.635, 95% CI: 1.093-2.431, p = .017) were independently associated with severe or critical type in COVID-19.

Proportion of severe or critical type increased with old age groups. Adults with old age and high heart rate, respiratory rate in admission and history of chronic heart disease were associated with severe or critical type in COVID-19.