The impact of COVID-19 on health status of home-dwelling elderly patients with dementia in East Lombardy, Italy: results from COVIDEM network

• Published in: Aging clinical and experimental research 2020-10, Vol.32 (10), p.2133-2140
• Main Authors: Caratozzolo, Salvatore, Zucchelli, Alberto, Turla, Marinella, Cotelli, Maria Sofia, Fascendini, Sara, Zanni, Mara, Bianchetti, Angelo, Psy, Matteo Peli, Rozzini, Renzo, Boffelli, Stefano, Cappuccio, Melania, Psy, Federica Gottardi, Psy, Chiara Vecchi, Bellandi, Daniele, Caminati, Claudia, Gentile, Simona, Psy, Elena Lucchi, Di Fazio, Ignazio, Psy, Marina Zanetti, Vezzadini, Giuliana, Psy, Chiara Forlani, Psy, Maura Cosseddu, Psy, Rosanna Turrone, Psy, Silvia Pelizzari, Scalvini, Andrea, Di Cesare, Marco, Psy, Marta Grigolo, Falanga, Lina, Medici, Nives, Palamini, Nives, Psy, Elisa Zanacchi, Psy, Eleonora Grossi, Bellelli, Giuseppe, Marengoni, Alessandra, Trabucchi, Marco, Padovani, Alessandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - mortality; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Dementia; Dementia - epidemiology; Dementia - mortality; Diabetes; Female; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Health Status; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Immunization; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mortality; Original; Original Article; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - mortality; SARS-CoV-2; Telemedicine
• ISSN: 1720-8319; 1594-0667; 1720-8319
• DOI: 10.1007/s40520-020-01676-z

Background COVID-19 outbreak has led to severe health burden in the elderly. Age, morbidity and dementia have been associated with adverse outcome. Aims To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on health status in home-dwelling patients. Methods 848 home-dwelling outpatients with dementia contacted from April 27 to 30 and evaluated by a semi-structured interview to evaluate possible health complication due to COVID-19 from February 21 to April 30. Age, sex, education, clinical characteristics (including diagnosis of dementia) and flu vaccination history were obtained from previous medical records. Items regarding change in health status and outcome since the onset of the outbreak were collected. COVID-19 was diagnosed in patients who developed symptoms according to WHO criteria or tested positive at nasal/throat swab if hospitalized. Unplanned hospitalization, institutionalization and mortality were recorded. Results Patients were 79.7 years old (SD 7.1) and 63.1% were females. Ninety-five (11.2%) patients developed COVID-19-like symptoms. Non COVID-19 and COVID-19 patients differed for frequency of diabetes (18.5% vs. 37.9%, p