Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (Jun 2021)

Dementia as Risk Factor for Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Case-Control Study

  • Mariantonietta Pisaturo,
  • Federica Calò,
  • Antonio Russo,
  • Clarissa Camaioni,
  • Agnese Giaccone,
  • Biagio Pinchera,
  • Ivan Gentile,
  • Filomena Simeone,
  • Angelo Iodice,
  • Paolo Maggi,
  • Paolo Maggi,
  • Nicola Coppola

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2021.698184
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to investigate the outcome of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and dementia.Patients and MethodsIn a multicenter, observational, 1:2 matched case-control study all 23 patients with a history of dementia, hospitalized with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection from February 28th 2020 to January 31st 2021 were enrolled. For each Case, 2 patients without dementia observed in the same period study, pair matched for gender, age (±5 years), PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratio at admission (<200, or >200), number of comorbidities (±1; excluding dementia) were chosen (Control group).ResultsThe majority of patients were males (60.9% of Cases and Controls) and very elderly [median age 82 years (IQR: 75.5–85) in the Cases and 80 (IQR: 75.5–83.75) in the Controls]. The prevalence of co-pathologies was very high: all the Cases and 43 (93.5%) Controls showed a Charlson comorbidity index of at least 2. During hospitalization the patients in the Case group less frequently had a moderate disease of COVID-19 (35 vs. 67.4%, p = 0.02), more frequently a severe disease (48 vs. 22%, p = 0.03) and more frequently died (48 vs. 22%, p = 0.03). Moreover, during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 14 (60.8%) patients in the Case group and 1 (2.1%; p < 0.000) in the Control group showed signs and symptoms of delirium.ConclusionPatients with dementia are vulnerable and have an increased risk of a severe disease and death when infected with COVID-19.

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