Health status in survivors older than 70 years after hospitalization with COVID-19: observational follow-up study at 3 months

PURPOSE: To analyze factors associated with mortality at 3 months and readmissions, functional and cognitive decline, anorexia and affective disorders in patients aged > 70 years surviving after hospital admission for SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Patients aged > 70 years, discharged after hospitalization with COVID-19. Outcome variables:mortality, readmissions, functional and cognitive impairment, anorexia and mood disorder. RESULTS: 165 cases at 3 months after hospital discharge, 8.5% died and 20% required at least one hospital readmission. The presence of severe dependence at discharge (BI < 40) was associated at 3 months with a higher risk of mortality (OR 5.08; 95% CI 1.53–16.91) and readmissions (OR 4.53; 95% CI 1.96–10.49). The post-hospitalization functional deterioration was associated with persistence of deterioration at 3 months (OR 24.57; 95% CI 9.24–65.39), cognitive deterioration (OR 2.32; 95% CI 1.03–5.25) and affective (OR 4.40; 95% CI 1.84–10.55) CONCLUSIONS: Loss function in older people after hospitalization by COVID-19 may contribute to identify patients with a higher risk of sequelae in the short term that require closer follow-up.