Altered Mental Status: An Important but Overlooked Presenting Symptom of COVID-19 in Older Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine whether altered mental status (AMS) as a presenting symptom in older adults with COVID-19 is independently associated with adverse outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective single center observational study of admitted patients (n = 421) age greater than 60 and a positive COVID-19 test. Outcomes included mortality, intubation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute kidney injury, and acute cardiac injury. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine if presenting with AMS was associated with adverse outcomes.

Results

There was an increased risk of mortality (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.05-1.57), intubation (RR 1.52, 95% CI 1.09-2.12) and AKI (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.13-1.78) in patients that presented with AMS.

Conclusions

During a global pandemic

SUBMITTER: Oommen A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8196474 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature