Clinical Findings in Older Population Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Medical Centers Affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, 2020-2021

Older adults with chronic diseases are at higher risk for infectious diseases, especially COVID-19. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations in aged people with COVID-19 in Mazandaran province between March 2020 and September 2021.

In a retrospective descriptive study, we studied demographic information, symptoms, and clinical manifestations of all patients over 60 years of age with COVID-19 admitted to medical centers affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The checklist provided by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education available in the Medical Care Monitoring Center (MCMC) of the province was used.

Totally, 40804 older adults were hospitalized, including 21405 (52.36%) women. Most of the patients aged 60-75 years old (68%). In 49%, the time from the onset of symptoms to hospitalization was less than five days. Respiratory diseases (34%), heart disease and hypertension (25%), and diabetes (20.99%) were the most common underlying diseases. The main clinical symptoms were cough (26.43%), respiratory distress (26.33%), and fever (22.77%). The mortality rate was 12.08% (n= 4930).

According to this study, chronic diseases in older population worsens the symptoms of COVID-19, which is consistent with other age groups. Care and intervention measures, such as self-care education could be of great benefit in promoting the health of aged people.