Clinical characteristics and relevant factor analysis in super-aged COVID-19 patients

Abstract

Abstract Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and analyze the relevant factors of super-aged patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods Clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, imaging data, treatments, and outcomes of 366 aged patients (aged ≥ 80 years) with COVID-19 hospitalized and treated at the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between August 2022 and December 2022 were collected. Results This study include a total of 235 males (64.2%) and 131 females (35.8%), with an average age of 88.7 ± 1.8 years. The levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were higher and the lymphocyte count was lower in severe patients compared to mild patients. Serum albumin (ALB), prealbumin, hemoglobin (Hb), the nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS2002) score, the Padua score, and the activities of daily living (ADL) score were substantially lower in severe patients compared to mild patients. Age, Hb level, and ADL score were linked with the progression to severe COVID-19. The vaccination percentage was much lower in severe patients than in mild patients, and the use of antibiotics and mechanical ventilation through tracheal intubation was considerably higher in severe patients than in mild patients. Conclusion Super-aged COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, chronic pulmonary diseases, or chronic renal diseases had a higher risk of progression to severe pneumonia,lung CT scanning showed more severe manifestations, and the risk of complications including mixed infection, malnutrition, and mechanical ventilation through tracheal intubation was higher. The vaccination percentage was low among severe patients. Comprehensive treatments should be performed in super-aged COVID-19 patients to improve the outcomes.