Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (SIGG), Via G.C. Vanini 5, 50129 Florence, Italy
Carmine Cafariello
Geriatrics Outpatient Clinic and Territorial Residences, Italian Hospital Group, Via Tiburtina 188, 00012 Guidonia, Italy
Stefano Fumagalli
Department of Experimental, Clinical Medicine, Division of Geriatric and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Florence and AOU, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
Pietro Gareri
Center for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia (CDCD) Catanzaro Lido–ASP Catanzaro 214, 88100 Catanzaro Lido, Italy
Enrico Mossello
Department of Experimental, Clinical Medicine, Division of Geriatric and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Florence and AOU, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
Caterina Trevisan
Geriatric Division, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
Stefano Volpato
Geriatric and Orthogeriatric Division, Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, Via Aldo Moro 2, 44124 Cona, Italy
Fabio Monzani
Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Alessandra Coin
Geriatric Division, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
Giuseppe Bellelli
Acute Geriatric Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Via G. B. Pergolesi 33, 20900 Monza, Italy
Chukwuma Okoye
Geriatrics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Stefania Del Signore
Bluecompanion Ltd., 237 Vauxhall Bridge Rd, Pimlico, London SW1V 1EJ, UK
Gianluca Zia
Bluecompanion Ltd., 237 Vauxhall Bridge Rd, Pimlico, London SW1V 1EJ, UK
Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi
Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Campus Bio-Medico University, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy
Background: Long-term care facility (LTCF) residents often present asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic features of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed at investigating signs/symptoms, including their clustering on SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality rates associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in LTCF residents. Methods: This is a cohort study of 586 aged ≥ 60 year-old residents at risk of or affected with COVID-19 enrolled in the GeroCovid LTCF network. COVID-19 signs/symptom clusters were identified using cluster analysis. Cluster analyses associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality were evaluated using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Cluster 1 symptoms (delirium, fever, low-grade fever, diarrhea, anorexia, cough, increased respiratory rate, sudden deterioration in health conditions, dyspnea, oxygen saturation, and weakness) affected 39.6% of residents and were associated with PCR swab positivity (OR = 7.21, 95%CI 4.78–10.80; p p = 0.008), while those of Cluster 2 were not associated with mortality (HR = 0.82, 95%CI 0.26–2.56; p = 730). Conclusions: Our study highlights that delirium, fever, and low-grade fever, alone or in clusters should be considered in identifying and predicting the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in older LTCF patients.
