Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem ()

Scientific knowledge about infections by the new coronavirus in older adults: a scoping review

  • Darlene Mara dos Santos Tavares,
  • Nayara Gomes Nunes Oliveira,
  • Marina Aleixo Diniz-Rezende,
  • Graziele Ribeiro Bitencourt,
  • Marcos Barragan da Silva,
  • Alisson Fernandes Bolina

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0938

Abstract

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ABSTRACT Objective: to map the scientific knowledge about COVID-19 in older adults. Method: this is a scoping review literature review. A search was performed in the PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science and LILACS databases. Original articles that answered the guiding question were included: what scientific knowledge is available in the world about COVID-19 in older adults? Results: thirty-one articles were included, most of them carried out in China (n=23) and with a retrospective design (n=13) and case studies/case series (n=13). Based on the findings, six thematic categories emerged: clinical signs and symptoms (n=12), other information (n=9), adverse outcomes/complications resulting from COVID-19 (n=8), age relationship and greater severity of COVID-19 (n=8), variables related to death by COVID-19 (n=8), and diagnostic findings (n=8). Conclusion: the findings reinforce older adults’ greater vulnerability to the worsening of COVID-19, as well as to complications resulting from the disease, including the greater occurrence of death.

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