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Efficacy of COVID-19 treatments among geriatric patients: a systematic review

Helen Senderovich1, Danusha Vinoraj2, Madeline Stever3

  • 1Baycrest, 3560 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M6A 2E1, Canada.

Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease
|June 9, 2022
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 treatments for geriatric patients show varied efficacy. While some drugs like favipiravir and baricitinib improved symptoms, others like hydroxychloroquine were ineffective. Further research is needed for older adults.

Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • COVID-19 disproportionately affects individuals over 60.
  • Effective and universally accepted treatments for geriatric COVID-19 patients are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current literature on the efficacy of various COVID-19 treatments in geriatric populations.
  • To identify treatments with demonstrated safety and effectiveness in older adults.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of PubMed, MedRxiv, and JAMA databases was conducted.
  • Searched for studies on COVID-19 treatments in patients aged 60 years and older, published between January 2019 and January 2022.
  • Included interventions such as hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, dexamethasone, favipiravir, tocilizumab, and convalescent plasma, assessing outcomes like viral load and clinical improvement.

Main Results:

  • Hydroxychloroquine, dexamethasone, and remdesivir showed greater side effects or inefficiency in geriatric patients.
  • Favipiravir, bamlanivimab, and baricitinib, along with supportive therapy, demonstrated a decrease in viral load and improved clinical symptoms.
  • Evidence for tocilizumab, convalescent plasma, and anticoagulant therapy was conflicting regarding mortality and clinical improvement.

Conclusions:

  • Current COVID-19 treatments exhibit variable efficacy and safety profiles in geriatric populations.
  • Further research is essential to establish the safety and effectiveness of reviewed interventions for older adults.
  • No agent is currently proven effective for post-exposure COVID-19 prevention in this demographic.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19clinical decisionspharmacologyrespiratory conditionssupportive caresymptoms and symptom management

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