Clinical Characteristics and Survival Analysis in a Small Sample of Older COVID-19 Patients with Defined 60-Day Outcome

Agnieszka Neumann-Podczaska, Michal Chojnicki, Lukasz M. Karbowski, Salwan R. Al-Saad, Abbas A. Hashmi, Jerzy Chudek, Slawomir Tobis, Sylwia Kropinska, Iwona Mozer-Lisewska, Aleksandra Suwalska, Andrzej Tykarski and Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis
Additional contact information
Agnieszka Neumann-Podczaska: Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-245 Poznan, Poland
Michal Chojnicki: Department of Biology and Environmental Protection, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
Lukasz M. Karbowski: Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-245 Poznan, Poland
Salwan R. Al-Saad: Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-245 Poznan, Poland
Abbas A. Hashmi: Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-245 Poznan, Poland
Jerzy Chudek: Department of Internal Medicine and Oncological Chemotherapy, Medical University of Silesia, 40-027 Katowice, Poland
Slawomir Tobis: Occupational Therapy Unit, Department of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
Sylwia Kropinska: Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-245 Poznan, Poland
Iwona Mozer-Lisewska: Department of Biology and Environmental Protection, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
Aleksandra Suwalska: Department of Mental Health, Chair of Psychiatry Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-572 Poznan, Poland
Andrzej Tykarski: Department of Hypertensiology, Angiology and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-848 Poznan, Poland
Katarzyna Wieczorowska-Tobis: Geriatric Unit, Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-245 Poznan, Poland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 22, 1-12

Abstract: The older population is one of the most vulnerable to experience adverse outcomes of COVID-19. Exploring different clinical features that may act as detrimental to this population’s survival is pivotal for recognizing the highest risk individuals for poor outcome. We thus aimed to characterize the clinical differences between 60-day survivors and non-survivors, as well as analyze variables influencing survival in the first older adults hospitalized in Poznan, Poland, with COVID-19. Symptoms, comorbidities, complications, laboratory results, and functional capacity regarding the first 50 older patients (≥60 years) hospitalized due to COVID-19 were retrospectively studied. Functional status before admission (dependent/independent) was determined based on medical history. The 60-day survivors ( n = 30/50) and non-survivors ( n = 20/50) were compared across clinical parameters. The patients had a mean age of 74.8 ± 9.4 years. Overall, 20/50 patients died during hospitalization, with no further fatal outcomes reported during the 60-day period. The non-survivors were on average older (78.3 ± 9.7 years), more commonly experienced concurrent heart disease (75%), and displayed functional dependence (65%) ( p < 0.05). When assessing the variables influencing survival (age, heart disease, and functional dependence), using a multivariate proportional hazards regression, functional dependence (requiring assistance in core activities of daily living) was the main factor affecting 60-day survival (HR, 3.34; 95% CI: 1.29–8.63; p = 0.01). In our study, functional dependence was the most important prognostic factor associated with mortality. Elderly with COVID-19 who required assistance in core activities of daily living prior to hospitalization had a three times increased risk to experience mortality, as compared to those with complete independence. Exploring geriatric approaches, such as assessment of functional capacity, may assist in constructing comprehensive survival prognosis in the elderly COVID-19 population.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; elderly; independence; 60-day survival; prognosis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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