Perfil da população idosa com desenvolvimento de síndrome respiratória aguda grave devido à COVID-19 na Macrorregião de Saúde Leste de Minas Gerais

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the profile of the elderly population with severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 in the Health Macroregion of Eastern Minas Gerais. A descriptive and retrospective study was conducted, analyzing data accessed through the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System. Data from 2419 notifications of severe acute respiratory syndrome in subjects aged 60 years or older with a COVID-19 diagnosis were analyzed from April 2020 to April 2021. The elderly subjects were characterized in terms of general characteristics, clinical evolution of COVID-19, and the presence of pre-existing clinical conditions. The data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. The majority of the elderly (73.1±0.2 years) identified as multiracial (61.6%) and lived in urban area (88.7%). Regarding clinical evolution, 98.8% of the elderly were hospitalized, 33.7% required intensive care unit admission, and 19.1% required invasive ventilatory support. Regarding the presence of pre-existing clinical conditions, 53.9% of the elderly had chronic cardiovascular diseases, 29.8% had diabetes, 5.8% had chronic respiratory diseases, 6.7% were obese, and 4.2% had chronic kidney disease. Death occurred in 46.5% of the elderly, and it was significantly associated with the presence of diabetes (P=0.003) and with higher age range (P=0.000). It is concluded that there was a high mortality rate among elderly populations with severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 and that the presence of diabetes and higher age range were associated with this outcome.