Clinical characteristics and outcome of hospitalized elderly patients with COVID- 19 after vaccine failure

Vaccine. 2022 Jul 30;40(32):4307-4311. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.06.003. Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Abstract

We described clinical characteristics and outcome of 160 patients over 65 years (01 September to 31 August 2021) who had a first positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR- test more than 14 days after full vaccination and were hospitalized with COVID-19. Median age of included patients was 84 years, 61.2% were over 80 years; 50.6% were male and most (82.5%) has at least one comorbidity. Up to 84% received specific treatment against COVID-19, including 76.9% low-flow oxygen therapy. We found that overall mortality was 25.6% and 30.6% in those older than 80 years. A higher mortality was significantly associated with older age and treatment with tocilizumab. Our data showed that although COVID-19 vaccines continue protecting elderly patients against hospitalization and death and might improve the prognosis after hospitalization in patients with breakthrough infections, mortality in this population -especially in those older than 80 years- remains very high.

Keywords: Aged; COVID-19 Vaccines; COVID-19 breakthrough infections; Immunization.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Male
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines