COVID in Older Adults Flashcards
Who is at risk for severe COVID illness?
> 65 years old
living in nursing home or assisted living
ANYONE with certain underlying conditions
Which underlying conditions places people at more risk?
Chronic lung disease
Moderate/severe asthma
Immunocompromised individuals: HIV/AIDS, cancer treatment, smoking, immune deficiencies, prolonged use of corticosteroids, s/p bone marrow or organ
transplant
Severe obesity (BMI >40)
Chronic kidney disease and undergoing dialysis
Diabetes
Liver disease
Which two things are the greatest predictors of survival with COVID?
Age and comorbidities
The Pulmonary system with aging
Compliance decreases
the ease with which the lungs inflate
Vital capacity decreases
maximum volume expired after maximum inspiration
Peripheral chemoreceptors are not as responsive to hypoxemia
Central receptors are not as responsive to hypercapnia
ventilatory response mediated by the CNS is significantly depressed
Decreases chest wall compliance
T/F the overall result of changes to the respiratory
system with normal aging is that older adults have a decreased efficiency of gas exchange and increased work of breathing
true
Whats the link between normal aging and COIVD?
Due to a decrease in airway and respiratory function with normal aging, there is less ability for the body to compensate and manage COVID
-the change in immune responses with aging also sets older patients up for long-term complications from COIVD
COVID Symptoms and Findings
has a similar onset as pneumonia- SOB and inability to breathe
-dry cough
-fever
-fatigue
-HA
-sore throat
-chills
What are the most common symptoms of COVID?
Dry cough and fever
T/F COVID presents more like pneumonia?
False- presents more like acute respiratory distress syndrome b/c it gets into the blood stream and infiltrates the lungs due to leakiness from capillaries
Why is prone positioning important?
B/c the alveoli are affected by COVID since the capillaries surround all the alveoli and there are more alveoli posterior
How does COVID typically result in death?
by severe disease onset leading to massive alveolar damage and progressive respiratory failure
Severe disease symptoms
-high fever
-coughing up blood
-decreased WBC
-kidney dysfunction
-multi-organ involvement
Acute COVID management
-antibiotics
-ventilation
-prone positioning (12-18 hrs/day)
-ECMO
T/F airway clearance techniques are contraindicated for COVID patients?
True- since COVID presents like ARDS and airway clearance is contraindicated for that
**however, if COVID patient has pre-existing conditions (asthma, COPD, CF) airway clearance can be helpful
T/F COVID patients may present with Intensive Care Syndrome
True- health problems that remain after the critical illness.
They are present when the patient is in the ICU and may persist after the patient leaves the acute setting.
These problems can involve the patient’s body, thoughts, feelings, or mind and may affect the family.
