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Frailty in Elderly Patients with Covid-19: A Narrative Review.

Authors :: Salini S
Russo A
De Matteis G
Piccioni A
Della Polla D
Carbone L
Barillaro C
Landi F
Franceschi F
Covino M
Source :: Gerontology & geriatric medicine [Gerontol Geriatr Med] 2022 Mar 04; Vol. 8, pp. 23337214221079956. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Mar 04 (Print Publication: 2022).
Publication Year :: 2022
Abstract: Introduction: The SARS CoV-2 pandemic still generates a very high number of affected patients and a significant mortality rate. It is essential to establish objective criteria to stratify COVID-19 death risk. Frailty has been identified as a potential determinant of increased vulnerability in older adults affected by COVID-19, because it may suggest alterations of physical performance and functional autonomy.<br />Methods: We have conducted a narrative review of the literature on the evidences regarding COVID-19 and the frailty condition. Thirteen observational studies were included.<br />Conclusion: Data emerging from the studies indicate that older COVID-19 patients with a frailty condition have an increased risk of mortality compared with non-frail patients, and this association is independent of other clinical and demographic factors. A frailty evaluation is required to help clinicians to better stratify the overall risk of death for older patients with COVID-19.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.<br /> (© The Author(s) 2022.)