Background COVID-19 is a novel event of the twenty-first century. Therefore, contemporary research is required to determine the current pandemic's psychological impact on older populations. Soon after the COVID-19 outbreak, several narrative reviews and guidelines were released to support older adult's psychological wellbeing. However, a lack of data from original studies was reported until May 2020. Aim To identify studies published from May 2020 until January 2021 that quantitatively assessed the mental health impact of COVID-19 on older adults using validated psychometric tools. Method A comprehensive literature search of original research articles was conducted using specific terms. The screening procedure was conducted stepwise. Results Among the 18 included studies, cross-sectional online surveys indicated that older adults were less psychologically distressed than younger ones. A longitudinal study revealed that COVID-19 did not have a major impact on loneliness and satisfaction with life. On the contrary, studies comparing pre-with peri-pandemic data revealed that older adults experienced more severe depressive/anxiety/stress symptoms and loneliness during the pandemic. Several studies reported though only subclinical symptoms, as well as low loneliness levels during the pandemic. Conclusions Research studies suggested that older age may buffer against the COVID-19-related impact on mental health. Despite evidence against generalised perceptions of vulnerability, older adults' ability to adapt to adversity may be uneven, depending on cultural, social, economic and other individual factors. Taken together, the impact, moreover the long-term impact of COVID-19, is expected to vary across countries and older subpopulations, and remains to be evaluated by prospective, longitudinal studies.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is a distinct entity in diabetic patients with congestive heart failure, who have no angiographic evidence of significant coronary artery stenosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function in 24 elderly patients (mean age 67 +/- 2 years) with type 2 diabetes, who were asymptomatic and had no history of hypertension, or coronary or valvular heart disease. LV systolic indices (ejection fraction [EF] and fractional shortening [FS]), diastolic indices (E wave, A wave, E/A ratio, isovolumic relaxation time [IVRT] and deceleration time [DT]) and the myocardial performance index (MPI) were evaluated with echocardiography. Compared to controls (24 age- and gender-matched normal subjects), the E wave was reduced (0.60 +/- 0.10 m/sec vs 0.72 +/- 0.08 m/sec, p < 0.05), the A wave was increased (0.77 +/- 0.07 m/sec vs 0.68 +/- 0.06 m/sec, p < 0.05), the E/A ratio was decreased (0.78 +/- 0.20 vs 1.06 +/- 0.18, p < 0.001) and both IVRT and DT were prolonged (0.115 +/- 0.01 sec vs 0.09 +/- 0.01 sec, p < 0.001 and 0.240 +/- 0.04 sec vs 0.180 +/- 0.03 sec, p < 0.001, respectively). The MPI was significantly increased (0.640 +/- 0.170 vs 0.368 +/- 0.098, p < 0.001). LV diastolic function and the MPI are markedly impaired in asymptomatic elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

No abstract

No abstract

The cardiovascular system is influenced in the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is not uncommon in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. This is a report of an atypical presentation of a 78-year-old patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. The patient, in the acute setting, was diagnosed with rapidly deteriorating cardiac failure associated with PAF, respiratory distress, and deteriorating vitals, and was eventually intubated. The mechanisms and preexisting substrates of atrial fibrillation in COVID-19 patients are discussed. A connection between arrhythmia and COVID-19, on the basis of a generalized inflammatory state, is suggested. This particular case adds to the understanding that the occurrence of PAF in COVID-19 patients is consistent with the mechanism of worse outcomes due to systemic inflammation.