Clinical and CT findings of COVID-19: differences among three age groups

Abstract

Background The novel coronavirus pneumonia (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19) has spread around the world. We aimed to recapitulate the clinical and CT imaging features of COVID-19 and their differences in three age groups. Methods The clinical and CT data of patients with COVID-19 (n = 307) that had been divided into three groups (Group 1: < 40 years old; Group 2: 40 ≤ age < 60 years old; Group 3: ≥ 60 years old) according to age were analyzed retrospectively. Results Of all patients, 114 (37.1%) had histories of epidemiological exposure, 48 (15.6%) were severe/critical cases, 31 had hypertension (10.1%), 15 had diabetes mellitus (4.9%), 3 had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 1%). Among the three groups, severe/critical type, hypertension and diabetes occurred more commonly in the elderly group compared with Group 1&2 (P < 0.05, respectively). Cough and chest tightness/pain were more commonly appeared in Group 2&3 compared with Group 1 (P < 0.05, respectively). Compared with Group 1 and 2, there were more abnormal laboratory examination indexes (including CRP increase, abnormal percentage of lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes) in Group 3 (P < 0.05, respectively). CT images revealed that more lobes were affected and more subpleural lesions were involved in the elderly group, besides, crazy paving sign, bronchodilatation and pleural thickening were more commonly seen in the elderly group, with significant difference between Group 1&2, Group 2&3 (P < 0.05, respectively). Conclusions COVID-19 presented representative clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations and CT findings, but three age groups possessed their own specific characteristics. Grasping the clinical and CT features stratified by age will be helpful for early definite diagnosis of COVID-19.

The Role of Health Preconditions on COVID-19 Deaths in Portugal: Evidence from Surveillance Data of the First 20293 Infection Cases

“…Still, the link between older individuals and the likelihood to develop severe and critical cases of COVID-19 has been made before, either due to immunosenescence, malnutrition, or ignoring more easily the early symptoms and consequently missing the best time to seek medical advice [ 20 , 21 ]. Furthermore, several studies registered an important association between increased age and COVID-19 severity/fatality [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. The vulnerability of elderly individuals is illustrated in recent studies.…”

Analysis of Emergency Department Visits and Hospital Activity during Influenza Season, COVID-19 Epidemic, and Lockdown Periods in View of Managing a Future Disaster Risk: A Multicenter Observational Study

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Quantifying the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) of different age segments based on 60 patients

“…The results demonstrated the obvious infectivity of this disease and the importance of isolation [9]. A previously study [10] found that patients with underlying diseases are more likely to develop severe COVID-19. A recent study [11] showed that the occurrence of COPD was associated with a nearly four-fold higher risk of developing severe COVID-19.…”

“…Imaging revealed more lesions in the 40-65 and > 65-year-old groups (P < 0.0001). The days after the nucleic acid detection turned negative in the three age groups were: 9.19 ± 3.93 (< 40), 10.04 ± 4.10 (40-65), and 13.57 ± 2.76 (> 65) (P = 0.0373). After antiviral treatment, together with antiinfection regimen if the patient with lung infection and continuous oxygen inhalation if the patient is hypoxic, all patients achieved total recovery and were discharged with follow-up.…”