Antecedentes y objetivo La pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 condiciona elevadas tasas de mortalidad en pacientes mayores hospitalizados. Actualmente, pocos estudios incluyen pacientes octogenarios y ninguno analiza el impacto del estado funcional sobre este resultado de salud. Nuestro objetivo es describir las características de los pacientes mayores de 80 años hospitalizados por coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), determinar la tasa de mortalidad e identificar factores asociados.
Materiales y métodos Estudio observacional prospectivo realizado en mayores de 80 años ingresados por COVID-19 en un Servicio de Geriatría. Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas, clínicas, funcionales, mentales, analíticas, radiológicas, terapéuticas y asistenciales. Se analizaron mediante análisis bivariante los factores asociados a mortalidad intrahospitalaria.
Resultados Fueron incluidos 58 casos con COVID-19 confirmado por laboratorio, edad media 88,3 ± 5,4 años, 69% mujeres, 65,5% deterioro cognitivo moderado-severo e índice de Barthel previo 40,6 ± 36. Los principales síntomas fueron fiebre (60,3%), disnea (53,4%) y deterioro del estado funcional (50%). Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron enfermedad cardiovascular (75,9%), hipertensión arterial (HTA) (74,1%) y enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) (50%). Se detectó una tasa de mortalidad del 41,4%, siendo los factores asociados: dependencia funcional severa (OR = 3,8 [1,2-12,2]), ERC (OR = 3,2 [1,1-9,7]), deterioro cognitivo moderado-severo (OR = 4,9 [1 a 25,4]).
Conclusiones Se objetivan altas tasas de mortalidad en pacientes mayores hospitalizados por COVID-19, con mayor riesgo de fallecer en aquellos con dependencia funcional severa o deterioro cognitivo. Estos hallazgos refuerzan la importancia de la Valoración Geriátrica para elaborar estrategias que permitan adecuar la toma de decisiones diagnósticas y terapéuticas y optimizar la atención al paciente anciano ante un nuevo brote epidémico.
Objective The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic conditions high mortality rates in hospitalized elderly. Currently, a few studies include octogenarian patients and none of them analyze the impact of functional status on this health outcome. Our objective is to describe the characteristics of patients older than 80 years hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to determine the mortality rate and to identify associated factors.
Material and methods Prospective observational study carried out on patients over 80 years admitted for COVID-19 in a Geriatrics Service. Sociodemographic, clinical, functional, mental, analytical, radiological, therapeutic and healthcare variables were collected. The factors associated with in-hospital lethality were analyzed by bivariate analysis.
Results 58 cases with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were included, mean age 88.3 ± 5.4 years, 69% women, 65.5% moderate-severe cognitive impairment and previous Barthel index 40.66 ± 36. The main symptoms were fever (60,3%), dyspnea (53.4%) and deterioration of functional condition (50%). The most frequent comorbidities were cardiovascular disease (75.9%), hypertension (HT) (74.1%) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (50%). A mortality rate of 41,4% was detected and the associated factors were: severe functional dependence (OR = 3.8 [1.2-12.2]), moderate-severe cognitive impairment (OR = 4.9 [1-25.4]) and CKD (OR = 3.2 [1.1-9.7]).
Conclusion High mortality rates are observed in older patients hospitalized for COVID-19, with a higher risk of dying in those with severe functional dependence or cognitive impairment. These findings reinforce the value of Geriatric Assessment to develop strategies to adapt diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making and to optimize care for elderly patients in the event of a new epidemic outbreak.