Node Smith, ND
A new analysis of data from researchers at King’s College London using information from the COVID Symptom Study app and patients admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in London, has shown that delirium — a state of acute confusion associated with a higher risk of serious illness and death — is a key symptom of COVID-19 in frail, older people.
Doctors and caregivers should be aware of delirium as a possible early warning sign of COVID-19 in the elderly
The findings, published in the journal Age and Ageing, highlight that doctors and caregivers should be aware of delirium as a possible early warning sign of COVID-19 in the elderly, even in the absence of more typical symptoms such as cough or fever.
Led by clinical fellow and geriatrician Dr Rose Penfold at King’s College London, the researchers analyzed data from two groups of older people aged 65 or over from March through May. The first group included 322 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 who had tested positive for COVID-19, while the second comprised 535 users of the COVID Symptom Study app who reported having had a positive test result.
Older adults admitted to hospital who were classified as frail according to a standard scale were more likely to have had delirium
They found that older adults admitted to hospital who were classified as frail according to a standard scale were more likely to have had delirium as one of their symptoms than people of the same age who were not classed as frail. Delirium, along with tiredness and breathlessness, were also more common in frailer users of the COVID Symptom Study app with COVID-19, compared with fitter people of the same age.
A third of app users experiencing delirium did not report suffering the ‘classic’ COVID-19 symptoms of cough and fever, while delirium was the only symptom for around one in five (18.9%) of hospitalized patients.
Frailty in the group of hospitalized patients
Frailty in the group of hospitalized patients was measured using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) test, which is administered by a doctor. COVID Symptom Study App users were asked to complete a short questionnaire asking about their health, which is comparable to the CFS.
First study showing that delirium is a likely symptom of COVID-19 in frail older adults
This is the first study showing that delirium is a likely symptom of COVID-19 in frail older adults, although the precise biological connection between the two conditions still needs to be understood. The findings also highlight the need for systematic assessment of frailty for older people, along with awareness and screening for delirium for this vulnerable population in hospitals, care homes and the community.
Dr Rose Penfold from King’s College London said: “Older, frailer people are at greater risk from COVID-19 than those who are fitter, and our results show that delirium is a key symptom in this group. Doctors and caregivers should watch out for any changes in mental state in elderly people, such as confusion or strange behavior, and be alert to the fact that this could be an early sign of coronavirus infection.”
Dr Claire Steves from King’s College London said: “The past six months have shown us that COVID-19 can spread catastrophically through care homes. Knowing that delirium is a symptom in frail, elderly people will help families and caregivers spot the signs earlier of COVID-19 and act appropriately and put in place infection control measures such as isolation, increased hygiene and personal protective equipment to protect this highly vulnerable group.”
Professor Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London and COVID Symptom Study lead, said: “In April we upgraded the COVID Symptom Study app to allow users to log health reports on behalf of friends and family who aren’t able to access the app. This significantly increased the number of older people in the study, providing vital insights. We’re hugely grateful to all our users and urge everyone to download the app and log their health and that of their loved ones on a daily basis as we move towards the winter months.”
1. Maria Beatrice Zazzara, Rose S Penfold, Amy L Roberts, Karla A Lee, Hannah Dooley, Carole H Sudre, Carly Welch, Ruth C E Bowyer, Alessia Visconti, Massimo Mangino, Maxim B Freydin, Julia S El-Sayed Moustafa, Kerrin Small, Benjamin Murray, Marc Modat, Jonathan Wolf, Sebastien Ourselin, Mark S Graham, Finbarr C Martin, Claire J Steves, Mary Ni Lochlainn. Probable delirium is a presenting symptom of COVID-19 in frail, older adults: a cohort study of 322 hospitalised and 535 community-based older adults. Age and Ageing, 2020; DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afaa223
Node Smith, ND, is a naturopathic physician in Humboldt, Saskatchewan and associate editor and continuing education director for NDNR. His mission is serving relationships that support the process of transformation, and that ultimately lead to healthier people, businesses and communities. His primary therapeutic tools include counselling, homeopathy, diet and the use of cold water combined with exercise. Node considers health to be a reflection of the relationships a person or a business has with themselves, with God and with those around them. In order to cure disease and to heal, these relationships must be specifically considered. Node has worked intimately with many groups and organizations within the naturopathic profession, and helped found the non-profit, Association for Naturopathic Revitalization (ANR), which works to promote and facilitate experiential education in vitalism.
