The impact of a multidisciplinary approach on elderly patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND. The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact in terms of both somatic and mental morbidity. The most vulnerable group of patients is represented by the elderly, due to their global fragility. During the COVID-19 pandemic, research have stated that age and related comorbidities are associated with the outcome and evolution of the coronavirus infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We performed a prospective observational study by applying a specific unsystematized questionnaire containing 21 questions, including patients admitted between 01.10.2021-16.03.2022 in the Internal Medicine Clinic and the Infectious Diseases Clinic COVID-19. Two hundred patients were included in the study of which the most important group was represented by the elderly. The current study aimed to demonstrate the clinical complexity of the patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. RESULTS. Among those patients who complained of cardiovascular symptoms such as tachycardia, palpitations, chest pains, 59.6% had no cardiac pathology, therefore they required psychiatric examination and specific anxiolytic and/or antidepressant treatment. Despite the fact that alarmingly low rates of vaccination were observed, we noticed a statistically significant association between the presence of insomnia and vaccination status: half of the vaccinated stated that they sleep as well as usual, compared to only 22.8% of the unvaccinated. We also found a statistically significant association between the presence of insomnia and peripheric oxygen saturations below 93%. CONCLUSION. The results of our study highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary management of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially targeting the elderly and fragile patients.