Mortality in COVID-19 older patients hospitalized in a geriatric ward: Is obesity protective?

Backgrounds: To investigate the relationship between obesity and 30-day mortality in a cohort of older hospitalized COVID-19 inpatients.

Methods: Included patients were aged 70 years or more; hospitalized in acute geriatric wards between March and December 2020; with a positive PCR for COVID-19; not candidate to intensive care unit admission. Clinical data were collected from patients electronic medical records.

[Understanding malaise occurring in elderly people].

Due to the potential seriousness of its consequences, particular attention must be paid to malaise occurring in elderly people. It represents between 5 and 10% of hospital admissions of patients over the age of seventy. A full clinical examination as well as some additional examinations usually enable the cause(s) to be identified.

[Should caregivers be concerned with the nutritional state of elderly patients?].

A geriatric syndrome in its own right, malnutrition must be systematically looked for whenever an elderly patient is being treated. A marker of vulnerability, once identified it requires repeated assessment and adapted treatment. Undernutrition is often the consequence of various aetiologies justifying a full assessment and an assertive, multi-professional treatment.