Delirium is an important sign of COVID-19 in the frail elderly

A new analysis of information from the COVID Symptom Study app and data from researchers at King’s College London using patients admitted to St. Thomas Hospital in London shows delirium-acute associated with a higher risk of serious illness and death. Showed a state of confusion — a major symptom of COVID-19 in the frail elderly.

Survey results published in the journal Age and agingEmphasize what doctors and caregivers need to know Delirium As a possible early warning sign of COVID-19 in the elderly, even in the absence of more typical symptoms such as cough and fever.

Researchers led by Dr. Rosepenfold, a clinician and geriatrician at King’s College London, analyzed data from two groups of older people aged 65 and over from March to May. The first group included 322 patients admitted with COVID-19 who tested positive for COVID-19, and the second group of COVID symptom study apps that reported positive test results. It contained 535 users.

They found it Senior citizens Inpatients who were classified as frail on a standard scale were more likely to have delirium as one of their symptoms than people of the same age who were not classified as frail. Delirium, along with fatigue and shortness of breath, was more common in frail users of the COVID Symptom Study app with COVID-19 compared to healthy people of the same age.

One-third of app users experiencing delirium do not report suffering from the “classical” COVID-19 symptoms of cough and fever, but only delirium Symptoms About 1 in 5 inpatients (18.9%).

Weakness in a group of inpatients was measured using the Clinical Fatigue Scale (CFS) test performed by a physician. Users of the COVID Symptom Study App were asked to complete a short questionnaire asking about their health status comparable to CFS.

This is the first study to show that delirium is likely a symptom of COVID-19 in frail older people, but it is necessary to understand the exact biological relationship between the two states. The findings also highlight the need for a systematic assessment of the frailty of the elderly, along with the recognition and screening of delirium in this vulnerable population in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and communities.

Dr. Rose Penfold of King’s College London said: “Elderly frail people are at higher risk of COVID-19 than healthy people, and our results show that delirium is a major symptom of this group. Doctors and caregivers should be careful. Necessary. Changes in mental status Senior citizensNote the fact that this can be an early sign of this, such as confusion or strange behavior. Coronavirus infection. “

Dr. Claire Steves of King’s College London said: “In the last 6 months, COVID-19 can spread catastrophically through care facilities. Elderly people know that delusion is a frail symptom, so elderly people are suitable for COVID-19 for their families and caregivers To act and protect this highly vulnerable group, we will take anti-infection measures such as quarantine, improved hygiene and personal protective equipment. “

Professor Tim Specter, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and a leader in COVID symptom research, said: “In April, we upgraded the COVID Symptoms Research app to allow users to record health reports on behalf of inaccessible friends and family. This has significantly increased the number of older people surveyed, which is important. I’ve gained a lot of insight. I’m really grateful to all users and encourage them to download the app and keep track of their health and their loved ones every day. Move towards winter. ”