PLoS ONE (Jan 2021)

Utility of hospitalization for elderly individuals affected by COVID-19.

  • Giorgio Costantino,
  • Monica Solbiati,
  • Silvia Elli,
  • Marco Paganuzzi,
  • Didi Massabò,
  • Nicola Montano,
  • Marta Mancarella,
  • Francesca Cortellaro,
  • Emanuela Cataudella,
  • Andrea Bellone,
  • Nicolò Capsoni,
  • Guido Bertolini,
  • Giovanni Nattino,
  • Giovanni Casazza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250730
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 4
p. e0250730

Abstract

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BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of individuals needing hospital admission has sometimes exceeded the availability of hospital beds. Since hospitalization can have detrimental effects on older individuals, preference has been given to younger patients. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of hospitalization for elderly affected by COVID-19. We hypothesized that their mortality decreases when there is greater access to hospitals.MethodsThis study examined 1902 COVID-19 patients consecutively admitted to three large hospitals in Milan, Italy. Overall mortality data for Milan from the same period was retrieved. Based on emergency department (ED) data, both peak and off-peak phases were identified. The percentage of elderly patients admitted to EDs during these two phases were compared by calculating the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of the individuals younger than, versus older than, 80 years.ResultsThe median age of the patients hospitalized during the peak phase was lower than the median age during the off-peak phase (64 vs. 75 years, respectively; p ConclusionsGreater access to hospitals during an off-peak phase did not affect the mortality rate of COVID-19-positive elderly patients in Milan. This finding, if confirmed in other settings, should influence future decisions regarding resource management of health care organizations.