Table 4.
Clinical findings of elderly patients (≥70 years old) hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection stratified by COVID-19 pandemic wave.
| Clinical Findings | 1st Wave (n = 60) | 2nd Wave (n = 60) | 3rd Wave (n = 60) | 4th Wave (n = 60) | 5th Wave (n = 60) | 6th Wave (n = 60) | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe COVID-19 | 11 (18.3%) | 9 (15.0%) | 16 (26.7%) | 19 (31.7%) | 8 (13.3%) | 8 (13.3%) | 0.046 |
| Severe imaging features | 12 (20.0%) | 8 (13.3%) | 17 (28.3%) | 21 (35.0%) | 12 (20.0%) | 13 (21.7%) | 0.085 |
| Mean duration of hospital stay | 15.3 ± 4.0 | 15.0 ± 4.3 | 14.1 ± 4.0 | 16.4 ± 5.2 | 10.3 ± 3.7 | 10.5 ± 3.9 | <0.001 |
| Median duration from symptom onset until hospital admission | 2.0 (2.0) | 3.0 (2.5) | 3.5 (3.0) | 3.0 (2.5) | 3.5 (3.0) | 4.0 (2.5) | 0.122 |
| Viral clearance | 15 (11) | 14 (13) | 16 (14) | 15 (12) | 14 (11) | 14 (12) | 0.683 |
| ICU admissions | 8 (13.3%) | 8 (13.3%) | 12 (20.0%) | 14 (23.3%) | 6 (10.0%) | 5 (8.3%) | 0.152 |
| Median duration from hospital admission to ICU admission | 5.0 (3.0) | 4.5 (3.5) | 4.0 (3.0) | 3.5 (3.0) | 3.5 (3.0) | 4.0 (3.5) | 0.360 |
| SOFA score | 5.6 (4.6) | 5.8 (4.8) | 6.7 (4.9) | 6.5 (4.3) | 6.8 (5.0) | 6.5 (4.8) | 0.062 |
| Median duration of ICU stay | 7.1 (3.4) | 6.6 (3.9) | 5.7 (4.0) | 5.2 (3.5) | 5.4 (3.4) | 5.9 (4.2) | 0.001 |
| Severe in-hospital complications | 7 (11.7%) | 8 (13.3%) | 13 (21.9%) | 15 (25.0%) | 7 (11.7%) | 9 (15.0%) | 0.227 |
| Intubation | 4 (6.7%) | 5 (8.3%) | 7 (11.7%) | 10 (16.7%) | 4 (6.7%) | 4 (6.7%) | 0.334 |
| Oxygen supplementation | 21 (35.0%) | 24 (40.0%) | 35 (58.3%) | 36 (60.0%) | 20 (33.3%) | 23 (38.3%) | 0.004 |
| Mortality | 3 (5.0%) | 3 (5.0%) | 5 (8.3%) | 9 (15.0%) | 4 (6.7%) | 3 (5.0%) | 0.215 |
Data reported as n (%) and calculated using the Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test unless specified differently; ICU—Intensive Care Unit; SOFA—Sequential Organ Failure Assessment.