Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality: Associated factors in hospitalized people 75 and older

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 infection in the elderly posed challenges in health systems and clinical care by health personnel. Objective: To describe the factors associated with mortality in persons aged 75 and older with COVID-19 in a high complexity hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. Methods: Observational, analytical and retrospective study, including 509 patients aged 75 and older hospitalized with COVID-19. Results: 40.47% died during hospital stay. It was found that a shorter time of symptom onset at admission, a respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute, having thrombocytopenia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase and elevated D-dimer were associated with higher in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: There is an association between mortality and the presence of dyspnea, fever and delirium. Paraclinical results with lactate dehydrogenase >350 (U/L), the presence of elevated D-dimer greater than 1,000 μg/L, as well as a Pa02/Fi02 ratio with a median of less than 90, were associated with higher mortality.