[Atypical clinical and mortality in older adults hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia]
Tlalnelli Valencia-Blancas1, Lucía Herlinda Pérez-Orozco2, Verónica Durán-Góme2
1Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Hospital General Regional No. 2, Servicio de Geriatría. Ciudad de México, México.
Background:
Pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a public health problem. Older adults are vulnerable and the atypical presentation delays diagnosis and increases mortality. In this group the atypical clinical manifestations are more frequent.
Objective:
To identify the clinical manifestations and mortality of COVID-19 pneumonia in hospitalized older adults.
Material And Methods:
A comparative cross-sectional observational study was carried out, from July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021, in a general hospital of Mexico City. Patients aged 60 years or more who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were included.
Results:
267 older adults participated; 53.9% were men, with a median age of 74 years. The most frequent comorbidities in this population were type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 41.2% showed atypical presentation of the disease; mortality in the studied population was 53.5%.
Conclusions:
The atypical presentation of COVID-19 pneumonia is common in adults over 60 years of age and it increases significantly as they become older. The absence of typical symptoms of pneumonia and the ignorance of the most common signs could delay diagnosis and timely care in this age group, which may increase complications and mortality.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:29Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology
01:30Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....
01:28Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include: