Table 1. Clinical characteristics of younger and elderly deceased patients with COVID-19.
| Characteristics | Total (n=163) | Younger (n=86) | Elderly (n=77) | P value |
| Age, years | 69.0 (62.0-78.0) | 62.0 (57.0-66.0) | 78.0 (73.0-83.0) | <0.001* |
| Male Sex | 109 (66.9%) | 58 (67.4%) | 51 (66.2%) | 0.870‡ |
| Comorbidities | ||||
| Hypertension | 63 (38.7%) | 27 (31.4%) | 36 (46.8%) | 0.044‡ |
| Diabetes | 30 (18.4%) | 16 (18.6%) | 14 (18.2%) | 0.945‡ |
| COPD | 4 (2.5%) | 0 (0.0%) | 4 (5.2%) | 0.048§ |
| Chronic cardiac disease | 25 (15.3%) | 8 (9.3%) | 17 (22.1%) | 0.024‡ |
| Chronic hepatic disease | 3 (1.8%) | 2 (2.3%) | 1 (1.3%) | 1.000§ |
| Chronic renal disease | 10 (6.1%) | 3 (3.5%) | 7 (9.1%) | 0.193§ |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 11 (6.7%) | 4 (4.7%) | 7 (9.1%) | 0.259‡ |
| Malignancy | 18 (11.0%) | 10 (11.6%) | 8 (10.4%) | 0.801‡ |
| Anemia | 5 (3.1%) | 3 (3.5%) | 2 (2.6%) | 1.000§ |
| Symptoms on admission | ||||
| Fever | 126 (77.3%) | 72 (83.7%) | 54 (70.1%) | 0.039‡ |
| Fatigue | 92 (56.4%) | 51 (59.3%) | 41 (53.2%) | 0.436‡ |
| Myalgia | 36 (22.1%) | 20 (23.3%) | 16 (20.8%) | 0.704‡ |
| Cough | 104 (63.8%) | 58 (67.4%) | 46 (59.7%) | 0.307‡ |
| Sputum production | 65 (39.9%) | 33 (38.4%) | 32 (41.6%) | 0.678‡ |
| Dyspnea | 113 (69.3%) | 57 (66.3%) | 56 (72.7%) | 0.373‡ |
| Nausea | 6 (3.7%) | 4 (4.7%) | 2 (2.6%) | 0.685§ |
| Vomiting | 6 (3.7%) | 4 (4.7%) | 2 (2.6%) | 0.685§ |
| Abdominal pain | 5 (3.1%) | 3 (3.5%) | 2 (2.6%) | 1.000§ |
| Diarrhea | 27 (16.6%) | 16 (18.6%) | 11 (14.3%) | 0.459‡ |
| Anorexia | 48 (29.4%) | 19 (22.1%) | 29 (37.7%) | 0.029‡ |
| Headache | 5 (3.1%) | 4 (4.7%) | 1 (1.3%) | 0.371§ |
| Shortness of breath | 66 (40.5%) | 34 (39.5%) | 32 (41.6%) | 0.793‡ |
| Days from illness onset to admission | 10.0 (7.0-15.0) | 11.0 (8.8-15.0) | 10.0 (6.0-15.0) | 0.084* |
| Days from illness onset to death | 23.0 (17.0-34.0) | 25.0 (18.0-35.0) | 22.0 (15.0-33.5) | 0.355* |
| Vital signs on admission | ||||
| Body temperature, °C | 36.9 (36.5-37.8) | 37.0 (36.5-38.0) | 36.8 (36.5-37.5) | 0.342* |
| Heart rate, beats/minute | 90.0 (79.0-101.0) | 91.5 (80.8-107.5) | 88.0 (75.5-98.0) | 0.017* |
| ≥100 | 49 (30.1%) | 32 (37.2%) | 17 (22.1%) | 0.035‡ |
| <100 | 114 (69.9%) | 54 (62.8%) | 60 (77.9%) | |
| Respiratory rate, breaths/minute | 23.0 (20.0-30.0) | 23.5 (20.0-30.0) | 22.0 (20.0-30.0) | 0.662* |
| ≥24 | 75/162 (46.3%) | 43/86 (50.0%) | 32/76 (42.1%) | 0.315‡ |
| <24 | 87/162 (53.7%) | 43/86 (50.0%) | 44/76 (57.9%) | |
| Systolic blood pressure, mmHg | 137.0 (120.0-150.0) | 131.0 (117.8-150.0) | 142.0 (130.0-152.0) | 0.012* |
| Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg | 80.0 (70.0-88.0) | 80.0 (70.0-89.0) | 80.0 (72.0-88.0) | 0.833* |
| SpO2, % | 90.0 (81.0-95.0) | 90.0 (82.0-95.0) | 91.0 (80.0-96.0) | 0.936* |
| ≥93 | 61 (37.4%) | 32 (37.2%) | 29 (37.7%) | 0.952‡ |
| <93 | 102 (62.6%) | 54 (62.8%) | 48 (62.3%) | |
| CURB-65 score on admission | 1.0 (1.0-2.0) | 1.0 (1.0-2.0) | 1.0 (0-2.0) | 0.436* |
| qSOFA score on admission | 1.0 (0-1.0) | 1.0 (0-1.0) | 1.0 (0-1.0) | 0.139* |
Note: data are presented as medians (interquartile ranges, IQR), n (%) and n/N (%). P values are calculated by Wilcoxon rank-sum test, χ2 test, or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate.
Abbreviations: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; SpO2, Oxygen saturation; qSOFA, quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment.
*Calculated using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.
‡Calculated using the χ2 test.
§Calculated using the Fisher’s exact test.