Treatment of COVID-19 disease in older people with cognitive impairment: A challenge into the challenge

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared COVID-19 disease a public health emergency of international concern. Even though no age-group is safe from the SARS-CoV-2 infection, the burden is extremely higher and most severe among persons aged 70 years and over, with a well-known mortality rates of more than 20% among octogenarians. The presence of multiple pre-existing comorbidities is associated with more severe SARS-CoV-2 infection manifestation, reflecting the presence of pre-existent physical and/or cognitive frailty. One of the main problems in patients with cognitive disorders is the management of drug therapy. In fact, there are a number of interactions and contraindications in the simultaneous administration of the antiviral drugs and the drugs that are commonly taken by older people. The aim of this review is to provide a clear and simple indication on how to improve the pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of patients with dementia and at the same time suffering from COVID-19 disease.