Older patients affected by COVID-19: investigating the existence of biological phenotypes
Abstract Introduction COVID-19 provides an opportunity to examine biological phenotypes (observable morphological, functional and biological characteristics) in individuals who experience the same acute condition, potentially revealing differences in response to acute external stressors. The aim our...
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05473-5 |
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| author | Alberto Zucchelli Marta Parigi Silvia Giliani Davide Liborio Vetrano Daniela Lucente Emanuele Marzetti Riccardo Calvani Giuseppe Bellelli Alessandra Marengoni |
| author_facet | Alberto Zucchelli Marta Parigi Silvia Giliani Davide Liborio Vetrano Daniela Lucente Emanuele Marzetti Riccardo Calvani Giuseppe Bellelli Alessandra Marengoni |
| author_sort | Alberto Zucchelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction COVID-19 provides an opportunity to examine biological phenotypes (observable morphological, functional and biological characteristics) in individuals who experience the same acute condition, potentially revealing differences in response to acute external stressors. The aim our study was to investigate biological phenotypes in older patients hospitalized for COVID-19, exploiting a panel of aging biomarkers. Methods Data were gathered from the FRACOVID Project, an observational multicenter study, aimed to evaluate the impact of frailty on health-related outcomes in patients 60 + with COVID-19 in Northern Italy. A hierarchical cluster analysis was run using log-transformed and scaled values of TNF-a, IL-1 beta, IL-6, PAI-1, GDF-15, NT-proBNP, and Cystatin C evaluated at admission. Results Eighty-one participants (mean age 75.3 years; 60.5% male) were evaluated. Frailty was identified in 42% of the sample and 27.2% were unable to ambulate outdoors. The mean hospital stay was 24.7 days, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 18.5%. Three biological phenotypes were found: (1) ‘inflammatory’, with high inflammatory biomarkers; (2) ‘organ dysfunction’, characterized by elevated cystatin C and NT-proBNP, and lower inflammatory markers; and (3) ‘unspecific’, with lower NT-proBNP and GDF-15 levels, and intermediate concentrations of other biomarkers. The ’organ dysfunction’ phenotype showed the highest mean age and prevalence of frailty, disability, and chronic diseases. The ‘inflammatory‘ phenotype showed the highest burden of respiratory and systemic signs and symptoms of infection. Conclusion Biological phenotypes might be used to identify different clinical and functional phenotypes in individuals affected by COVID-19. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3f748bdb2e6e454d969af2f72b31426c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-3f748bdb2e6e454d969af2f72b31426c2025-08-20T02:50:02ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182024-11-012411910.1186/s12877-024-05473-5Older patients affected by COVID-19: investigating the existence of biological phenotypesAlberto Zucchelli0Marta Parigi1Silvia Giliani2Davide Liborio Vetrano3Daniela Lucente4Emanuele Marzetti5Riccardo Calvani6Giuseppe Bellelli7Alessandra Marengoni8Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm UniversityA. Nocivelli Institute for Molecular Medicine, ASST Spedali CiviliA. Nocivelli Institute for Molecular Medicine, ASST Spedali CiviliAging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm UniversityFondazione “Ospedale e Casa di Riposo Nobile Paolo Richiedei”Department of Geriatrics, Orthopedics and Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro CuoreDepartment of Geriatrics, Orthopedics and Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro CuoreSchool of Medicine and Surgery, Milano-Bicocca UniversityAging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm UniversityAbstract Introduction COVID-19 provides an opportunity to examine biological phenotypes (observable morphological, functional and biological characteristics) in individuals who experience the same acute condition, potentially revealing differences in response to acute external stressors. The aim our study was to investigate biological phenotypes in older patients hospitalized for COVID-19, exploiting a panel of aging biomarkers. Methods Data were gathered from the FRACOVID Project, an observational multicenter study, aimed to evaluate the impact of frailty on health-related outcomes in patients 60 + with COVID-19 in Northern Italy. A hierarchical cluster analysis was run using log-transformed and scaled values of TNF-a, IL-1 beta, IL-6, PAI-1, GDF-15, NT-proBNP, and Cystatin C evaluated at admission. Results Eighty-one participants (mean age 75.3 years; 60.5% male) were evaluated. Frailty was identified in 42% of the sample and 27.2% were unable to ambulate outdoors. The mean hospital stay was 24.7 days, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 18.5%. Three biological phenotypes were found: (1) ‘inflammatory’, with high inflammatory biomarkers; (2) ‘organ dysfunction’, characterized by elevated cystatin C and NT-proBNP, and lower inflammatory markers; and (3) ‘unspecific’, with lower NT-proBNP and GDF-15 levels, and intermediate concentrations of other biomarkers. The ’organ dysfunction’ phenotype showed the highest mean age and prevalence of frailty, disability, and chronic diseases. The ‘inflammatory‘ phenotype showed the highest burden of respiratory and systemic signs and symptoms of infection. Conclusion Biological phenotypes might be used to identify different clinical and functional phenotypes in individuals affected by COVID-19.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05473-5BiomarkersCOVID-19ElderlyFrailty |
| spellingShingle | Alberto Zucchelli Marta Parigi Silvia Giliani Davide Liborio Vetrano Daniela Lucente Emanuele Marzetti Riccardo Calvani Giuseppe Bellelli Alessandra Marengoni Older patients affected by COVID-19: investigating the existence of biological phenotypes BMC Geriatrics Biomarkers COVID-19 Elderly Frailty |
| title | Older patients affected by COVID-19: investigating the existence of biological phenotypes |
| title_full | Older patients affected by COVID-19: investigating the existence of biological phenotypes |
| title_fullStr | Older patients affected by COVID-19: investigating the existence of biological phenotypes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Older patients affected by COVID-19: investigating the existence of biological phenotypes |
| title_short | Older patients affected by COVID-19: investigating the existence of biological phenotypes |
| title_sort | older patients affected by covid 19 investigating the existence of biological phenotypes |
| topic | Biomarkers COVID-19 Elderly Frailty |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-05473-5 |
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