Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Previous studies have reported that older patients may experience worse outcome(s) after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 than younger individuals. This study aimed to identify potential risk factors for mortality in older patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on admission, which may help identify those with poor prognosis at an early stage.
Design: Retrospective case-control.
Setting: Fever ward of Sino-French New City Branch of Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, China.
Participants: Patients aged 60 years or older with COVID-19 (n = 244) were included, of whom 123 were discharged and 121 died in hospital.
Measurements: Data retrieved from electronic medical records regarding symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings on admission, and final outcomes of all older patients with COVID-19, were retrospectively reviewed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore risk factors for death.
Results: Univariate analysis revealed that several clinical characteristics and laboratory variables were significantly different (ie, P < .05) between discharged and deceased patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that lymphocyte (LYM) count (odds ratio [OR] = 0.009; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.001–0.138; P = .001) and older age (OR = 1.122; 95% CI = 1.007–1.249; P= .037) were independently associated with hospital mortality. White blood cell count was also an important risk factor (