Risk factors for death in adult COVID-19 patients: Frailty predicts fatal outcome in older patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated demographics, comorbidities, and death rate in hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19. In addition, we hypothesized that functional status, according to the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), in patients aged 65 years or older is a better predictor of poor outcome than age and comorbidities. METHODS: A total of 255 randomly selected COVID-19 patients admitted to a university hospital were included and followed up for 60 days. Patient data were extracted manually from the electronic health records with use of a standardized protocol. RESULTS: The age of the study population ranged between 20 and 103 years (mean age 66 years ± 17 years). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity were the three most prevalent comorbidities. At the 60-day follow-up, 70 patients (27%) had died. In multivariate analyses, age, chronic kidney disease, and previous stroke were associated with death. Most fatal cases (90%) occurred in patients aged 65 years or older. Among such patients, CFS level was the only predictor of death in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that increasing age, chronic kidney disease, and previous stroke significantly contribute to a fatal outcome in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. In patients aged 65 years or older, CFS level was the strongest prognostic factor for death.

Omitting control biopsy in paediatric coeliac disease: a follow-up study.

AIM: To evaluate the practice of diagnosing coeliac disease with only one small-bowel mucosal biopsy in a selected group of children with suspected coeliac disease. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records and a follow-up interview of 102 children (65 girls, 37 boys) at diagnosis of coeliac disease. The inclusion criteria were age >18 months, increased levels of serum antitissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies and pathologic small-bowel mucosal biopsy. Anthropometric data were calculated for children 1.5-11 years of age. RESULTS: The levels of serum antitissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies were either normal (92%) or slightly elevated (8%) in all children after 1 year on a gluten-free diet. The height-for-age Z score increased in 52 of 61 (85%) children, (median 0.26 SD, range -0.45 to 1.83 SD) and the weight-for-age Z score increased in 50 of 61 (82%) children (median 0.42 SD, range -0.77 to 2.24 SD). Sixty of 61 (98%) children showed normal or catch-up growth. Regression of symptoms after 1 year on a gluten-free diet was reported for 71 of 72 (98%) children. CONCLUSION: We propose that a control biopsy is not necessary for the diagnosis of coeliac disease in these children.