Comparison of clinical features between elderly and non-elderly patients with corona virus disease 2019 / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:We aimed to compare the characteristics between elderly and non-elderly corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)patients, especially patients with different severity, in order to achieve a good understanding of elderly patients' clinical presentations.Methods:Records of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and hospitalized at Tongji Hospital from February 9, 2020 to February 29, 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.They were divided into the elderly(≥65 years old)and non-elderly(<65 years old)groups according to age.Data on morbidity, underlying diseases, clinical symptoms, laboratory test results, imaging characteristics and hospitalization outcomes were collected retrospectively and analyzed statistically.Results:A total of 51 patients were enrolled with 21 in the elderly group(41.2%), with an average age of(71.9±6.4)years, and 30 non-elderly patients(58.8%). There were 13 elderly patients(61.9%)exhibiting fever, representing a lower rate than in the non-elderly patients(27 or 90%)( χ2=5.764, P=0.016). Bilateral pneumonia was present on chest CT scans in all of the elderly patients, while it was seen in 83.3% of the non-elderly patients( χ2=3.880, P=0.049). The proportion of elderly patients with coronary heart disease(61.9%)or hypertension(26.8%)was higher than that of non-elderly patients.The usage rates of antiviral drugs, systemic hormones and antibiotics were all higher and the causes of death were all due to multiple organ failure in elderly patients. Conclusions:Elderly patients with COVID-19 possess special characteristics, showing atypical symptoms, and multiple concomitant diseases may be the reason for their poor clinical prognosis.More rigorous monitoring and careful treatment should be conducted for elderly COVID-19 patients.