Published online Dec 16, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i35.12890
Peer-review started: July 1, 2022
First decision: September 5, 2022
Revised: September 13, 2022
Accepted: November 17, 2022
Article in press: November 17, 2022
Published online: December 16, 2022
Processing time: 165 Days and 18.1 Hours
Elderly patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who have comor
To identify factors affecting the early mortality of elderly patients with COVID-19.
The records of 234 patients who were 65-years-old or more and were hospitalized in Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital from February 4 to March 4, 2020 were reviewed. All patients had confirmed COVID-19 and the final date of follow-up was April 4, 2020.
There were 163 cases of mild disease (69.66%), 39 cases of severe disease (16.67%) and 32 cases of critical disease (13.68%). Twenty-nine patients died within 1 mo (12.40%), all of whom had critical disease. Surviving patients and deceased patients had no significant differences in age or chronic diseases. Overall, the most common symptoms were fever (65.4%), dry cough (57.3%), fatigue (47.4%) and shortness of breath (41%). The deceased patients had higher levels of multiple disease markers (C-reactive protein, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, alanine amino transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine kinase and creatinine kinase-MB) and higher incidences of lymphocytopenia and hypoproteinemia.
This single-center study of elderly patients from Wuhan, China who were hospitalized with COVID-19 indicated that age and chronic diseases were not associated with mortality. Hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease were the most common comorbidities and the most common symptoms were fever, dry cough, fatigue and shortness of breath. Lymphocytopenia, increased levels of D-dimer and other markers indicative of damage to the heart, kidneys or liver were associated with an increased risk of death.
Core Tip: The records of 234 patients who were 65-years-old or more and were hospitalized in Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital because of coronavirus disease 2019 from February 4 to March 4, 2020 were reviewed. The results indicated that age and chronic disease were not associated with an increased risk of mortality. Hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease were the most common comorbidities, and the most common symptoms were fever, dry cough, fatigue and shortness of breath. Lymphocytopenia and increased levels of D-dimer and other markers indicative of damage to the heart, kidneys or liver were associated with an increased risk of death.