Coronavirus in the elderly

The new coronavirus is dangerous for the elderly. It is more difficult for their body to fight the infection, so it is important to recognize it in a timely manner and begin a full-fledged treatment. Without it, the disease can progress rapidly¹.

Elderly people who have not been vaccinated are at great risk of being in a hospital bed with a severe course of a coronavirus infection, which is dangerous for adverse outcomes. It is worth taking care of your protection by getting vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing pandemic-causing infection and are recommended for everyone aged 18 and over. Elderly people and those who live with them permanently or visit often need to take preventive measures to keep themselves safe from contracting COVID-19. Preventive measures include vaccination, wearing a mask, physical distancing and handwashing².

Symptoms of coronavirus in the elderly by day

In old age, the course of coronavirus infection has its own characteristics. Due to the presence of a whole “bouquet” of chronic pathologies in patients, the disease can often be complicated. Geriatricians (specialists in the treatment of the elderly) believe that the older the patient, the more symptoms of coronavirus he may have. In addition, the existing diseases make themselves felt.

Influenza and SARS, as a rule, proceed according to the standard scheme and you can clearly paint all the symptoms by day. However, coronavirus is still poorly understood and the course of the disease is often unpredictable. It is only known that in older patients the symptoms usually last longer than in younger ones.³.

• Temperature – in mild cases, it lasts 3-4 days, in more severe cases – up to 5-6 days or more. However, this symptom does not always appear in old age. There is evidence that high fever is typical for only 20% of older people. And this does not at all reflect the severity of the condition and the volume of lung damage.
• Dry cough – lasts up to 3 – 4 weeks or longer, especially strong in the first weeks of illness.
• Fatigue, severe weakness – can pursue up to 6 months.
• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath – are typical in the first week of illness, at the very peak of infection and can last up to 4 – 5 days.
• Runny nose – observed infrequently, usually it is a slight congestion and mucous discharge. There may be a loss of smell.
• Headaches or migraines – can last up to 1 – 2 weeks.
• Nausea and vomiting, stool problems – may be at the onset of the disease, and diarrhea is possible as a complication of taking antibiotics.
• Body aches, muscle pain – will be especially strong at a temperature, then they decline, on average, last up to a month.

In addition, the following symptoms are typical for older people:

• lowering of pressure;
• cardiopalmus;
• loss of balance and frequent falls;
• mental disorders (delusions, psychoses);
• memory problems⁴.

Is there an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19

Older people are more likely to become seriously ill with COVID-19. The severe course of the disease means that older people with COVID-19 may need hospitalization, intensive care or mechanical ventilation to help them breathe, or they may even die. The risk increases slightly for people in their 50s and increases substantially in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. Most often, severely ill people are 85 years of age and older. Other factors can also increase the likelihood of severe COVID-19, such as the presence of certain underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma. It is important to continue with your treatment plan unless your healthcare provider advises otherwise.⁵.

Treatments for coronavirus in the elderly

Treatment of the new COVID-19 infection is carried out in accordance with the clinical recommendations of the Russian Ministry of Health, which are regularly reviewed. Alas, no medicine has yet been found that would radically destroy the virus in the body, so treatment is used to combat symptoms and affect the mechanisms of infection⁶.

The main approach to treating COVID-19 should be to prescribe drugs before the full range of symptoms develop to prevent pneumonia, thrombotic complications, and other problems in the elderly. Treatment of COVID-19 is carried out in accordance with the protocols of these recommendations under the constant supervision of a physician. At the slightest deterioration, the treatment regimen must be changed. Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 should also receive supportive pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy (to alleviate the general condition). If there are chronic pathologies, they are also treated in accordance with clinical guidelines, standards of medical care for these diseases.

A mild form of infection is treated according to the principles of ARVI therapy:

• good nutrition, plentiful warm drink;
• taking vitamin D, ascorbic acid;
• drugs for the common cold (Pinosol, Tizin, Aqualor, Nazol, etc.);

• antipyretic drugs, it is possible to use combined ones (Rinza, Ibuklin, Nurofen, Ferveks, etc.);

• headache drugs (Paracetamol, Citramon, Pentalgin, Spasmalgon).

In severe infections, treatment is carried out in a hospital. Various groups of drugs are used:

• antiviral agents (Favipiravir, Remdesivir), recombinant interferon alfa-2b;
• transfusion of anticovid plasma;
• antibiotics, but they are used only if there is a proven presence of a secondary microbial infection;
• drugs from the group of anticoagulants for the prevention of blood clots;
• targeted therapy with IL-6 inhibitors (substances tocilizumab or sarilumab) to prevent a cytokine storm;
• corticosteroid drugs (suppress inflammation and immune responses in the lung tissue);
• oxygen support, and if it is ineffective, transfer to mechanical ventilation or ECMO;
• antipyretic drugs;
• sputum thinners, expectorants;
• vitamin C and vitamin D;
• additional protein nutrition, intravenous administration of protein solutions.

Important! All drugs are selected and prescribed only by a doctor, self-medication is unacceptable even with a mild form of the disease.

How the elderly are recovering from the coronavirus

COVID-19 has proven to be particularly dangerous for older adults, who are more likely to experience severe symptoms and end up in a hospital as a result. COVID-19 affects multiple organ systems, has been shown to affect physical functions and is associated with delirium. There is emerging evidence that older people infected with COVID-19 may still experience unpleasant symptoms for a long time after the acute stage of the disease has ended.

Many countries recognize the need to provide structured rehabilitation for older people with post-COVID-19 frailty. Today, for people who have had a coronavirus infection, an in-depth medical examination has been organized, which will identify the consequences of the disease in order to develop a recovery plan.⁷.

Prevention of coronavirus in the elderly at home

For the prevention of coronavirus infection among the elderly, a number of recommendations have been developed that effectively help in reducing the risk of infection:

• avoid crowded places, entrust shopping and pharmacies to relatives;
• if possible, use a personal car, taxi for travel, avoiding public transport, and if this is not possible, wear protective masks and gloves, maintain social distance, drive outside rush hours;
• do not touch your eyes, mouth or nose with hands that have not been previously washed;
• more often to visit places where there are few people – in the country, in a country house, boarding house during the cold season;
• avoid contact with people who have signs of infection;
• Seek medical attention if you have any signs of discomfort.

Coronavirus vaccine for the elderly

In view of the increased risk of an unfavorable course of infection and serious outcomes of the disease, since February 2021, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation has considered vaccination against coronavirus for the elderly as one of the key ways to protect against the disease. It is the 60+ population group that is vaccinated first and most actively. The task was set to achieve maximum vaccination coverage for this category of citizens, and today many have already received a full range of vaccinations.

What are the best coronavirus vaccines for the elderly?

Older people over the years of their lives usually acquire a whole “bouquet” of chronic pathologies that can complicate the course of the infection, weaken the already “aged” immunity. Therefore, today, for the elderly, the use of three domestic vaccines that have been registered and clinically tested and have proven their effectiveness is recommended:

Vaccines used:

• Satellite V – a two-component drug, administered at intervals of three weeks.
• EpiVacCrown – a peptide vaccine that forms immunity for a period of up to one year. It has high efficiency and safety in old age.
• KoviWak – a vaccine that was registered only in February 2021. Apply intramuscularly with an interval of two weeks.

When older people should not be vaccinated

There are a number of contraindications to vaccination with any type of vaccine in the elderly. These include:

• exacerbation of any chronic pathology;
• severe immunodeficiency;
• any acute infection or febrile reaction;
• intolerance to the components of the vaccine;
• allergy.

The final decision on the admissibility of vaccination in old age is made by the doctor based on the results of the examination and examination.

Popular questions and answers

Coronavirus infection for the elderly is especially dangerous. Is it possible to protect this category of people from the disease, what complications it threatens, is it possible to be treated at home, folk remedies, we asked Immunologist Ksenia Bocharova.

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