Clinical features of COVID-19 in elderly and in young patients.
M. De Leo, L. Falletta, E. Portera, S. Marchese, L. Blasi, T. Prestileo
Vol.5 (2020), issue 2, pag. 1 - 4
| Received | 20/03/2020 |
| Accepted | 22/04/2020 |
| Published | 21/07/2020 |
| Review by | Single-blind |
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Due to the general susceptibility of new coronaviruses, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of elderly and young patients may be different.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with 2019 new-type coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19).
METHODS: This is a retrospective study of new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) patients who were hosted or were health workers in Villa- frati (Palermo, Sicily) in an Assisted Residence for Elderly (ARE) from March 20, 2020 to June 9, 2020.
Compare the clinical characteristics of the elderly with young patients. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients with Coronavirus 19 infected were enrolled. Sixty-one guests elderly patients (50.8%), and fifty-nine health workers young patients (49.2%). The most common symptoms in both groups were cough, fever, shortness of breath, sudden onset of anosmia, ageusia or dysgeusia. The onset clinical presentation was substantially the same in the two groups. No difference was also observed into the group of elderly patients with neoplastic pathology.
The Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) score of the elderly group was higher than that of the young group. In the first group we observed PSI included between 56 and 212; in the young group between 25 and 90.
PSI grades IV was observed in 5 elderly patients (8.2%); PSI grades V was observed in 3 elderly patients (4.9%). No young patients had an IV or V PSI score. The proportion of lymphocytes in the elderly group was signi- ficantly lower than that in the young group (mean value: 2,090 vs 3,500/ mmc); the C-reactive protein was significantly higher in the young group. All patients with mild or moderate illness were treated with Hydroxychlo- roquine plus Azithromycin. Patients with the partial pressure of arterial oxygen < 80 mm Hg were treated with oxygen therapy. Patients with se- vere illness were hospitalized and received a negative pressure intensive care unit (ICU) for mechanical ventilation.
CONCLUSIONS: The overall mortality of elderly patients with CO- VID-19 was 11.4% (7 patients). No young patient died. Elderly patients with COVID-19 are more likely to progress to severe disease and to die.