BMC Geriatrics (Feb 2022)

Chronic diseases, chest computed tomography, and laboratory tests as predictors of severe respiratory failure and death in elderly Brazilian patients hospitalized with COVID-19: a prospective cohort study

  • Alberto Frisoli Junior,
  • Elaine Azevedo,
  • Angela Tavares Paes,
  • Eliene Lima,
  • João Carlos Campos Guerra,
  • Sheila Jean Mc Neill Ingham

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02776-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract Background The primary risk factors for severe respiratory failure and death in the elderly hospitalized with COVID-19 remain unclear. Objective To determine the association of chronic diseases, chest computed tomography (CT), and laboratory tests with severe respiratory failure and mortality in older adults hospitalized with COVID-19. Method This was a prospective cohort with 201 hospitalized older adults with COVID-19. Chronic diseases, chest CT, laboratory tests, and other data were collected within the first 48 h of hospitalization. Outcomes were progression to severe respiratory failure with the need of mechanical ventilation (SRF/MV) and death. Results The mean age was 72.7 ± 9.2 years, and 63.2% were men. SRF/MV occurred in 16.9% (p 80 ng/mL [OR: 2.97 (0.99–8.93; 0.052)], Vitamin D 40 pg/mL [OR:10.01 (1.66–60.13; 0.012)] were independent predictors of death. Conclusion In hospitalized older adults with COVID-19, tomographic pulmonary involvement > 50%, anemia, vitamin D below 40 ng/mL, and CRP above 80 mg/L were independent risk factors for progression to SRF/MV. The presence of chronic atrial fibrillation, previous cancer, IL-6 > 40 pg/mL, and anemia were independent predictors of death.

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