COVID-19 and the Elderly: Insights into Pathogenesis and Clinical Decision-making

Overview

Journal Aging Clin Exp Res

Publisher Springer

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2020 Jun 20

PMID 32557332

Citations 190

Authors

Fabio Perrotta

Graziamaria Corbi

Grazia Mazzeo

Matilde Boccia

Luigi Aronne

Vito DAgnano

Klara Komici

Gennaro Mazzarella

Roberto Parrella

Andrea Bianco

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The elderly may represent a specific cluster of high-risk patients for developing COVID-19 with rapidly progressive clinical deterioration. Indeed, in older individuals, immunosenescence and comorbid disorders are more likely to promote viral-induced cytokine storm resulting in life-threatening respiratory failure and multisystemic involvement. Early diagnosis and individualized therapeutic management should be developed for elderly subjects based on personal medical history and polypharmacotherapy. Our review examines the pathogenesis and clinical implications of ageing in COVID-19 patients; finally, we discuss the evidence and controversies in the management in the long-stay residential care homes and aspects of end-of-life care for elderly patients with COVID-19.

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