Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in older adults amid the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors

Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is one of the most worrying respiratory diseases, characterized by a flu-like condition associated with tachypnea or hypoxemia, with saturation below 95% in ambient air. In the context of the new coronavirus (SARSCoV- 2) pandemic, exponential growth in cases was observed, with the elderly being the most affected population group. This study aimed to describe SARS cases, as well as socio-demographic and health-associated factors in the elderly population of a city in the north of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. This is an epidemiological study carried out by Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System. The information was made available by the Municipal Health Department of the Passo Fundo between January 1st and December 31st, 2020. In the descriptive analysis, the distribution of absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies of the variables of interest was performed. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were estimated using Logistic Regression. A total of 1,268 SARS notifications were observed in the elderly, 72% of which were caused by covid-19. The lethality was high (40.9%), mainly among men and those with low education, with the presence of at least one risk factor, especially chronic kidney disease. It is expected that the associations highlighted in this study can help to develop health policies aimed at the health of the elderly, especially by strengthening actions in primary health care.