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Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2020 Sep 1:glaa219. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glaa219

Older Adults With Coronavirus Disease 2019; A Nationwide Study in Turkey

Mert Esme 1,#,, Meltem Koca 1,#, Ayse Dikmeer 1, Cafer Balci 2, Naim Ata 3, Burcu Balam Dogu 1, Mustafa Cankurtaran 1, Meltem Yilmaz 4, Osman Celik 5, Gulnihal Gokce Unal 3, Mustafa Mahir Ulgu 4, Suayip Birinci 6
PMCID: PMC7499528  PMID: 32871002

Abstract

Background

A novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) occurred in China in December 2019 and has spread globally. In this study we aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized older adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Turkey.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of hospitalized patients aged ≥ 60 years with confirmed COVID-19 from March 11, 2020, to May 27, 2020 using nationwide health database.

Results

In this nationwide cohort, a total of 16942 hospitalized older adults with COVID-19 were enrolled, of whom 8635 (51%) were women. Mean age was 71.2 ± 8.5 years, ranging from 60 to 113 years. Mortality rate before and after curfew was statistically different (32.2% vs 17.9%; p & 0.001, respectively). Through multivariate analysis of the causes of death in older patients, we found that male gender, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, dementia, cancer, admission to intensive care unit, computed tomography finding compatible with COVID-19 were all significantly associated with mortality in entire cohort. In addition to abovementioned risk factors, in patients aged between 60-79 years, coronary artery disease, oxygen support need, total number of drugs, and cerebrovascular disease during hospitalization, and in patients 80 years of age and older acute coronary syndrome during hospitalization were also associated with increased risk of mortality.

Conclusions

In addition to the results of previous studies with smaller sample size, our results confirmed the age-related relationship between specific comorbidities and COVID-19 related mortality.

Keywords: Nationwide, COVID-19, Infection, Risk Factors


Articles from The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

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