Frailty is a state of vulnerability to stressors because of a decreased physiological reserve, resulting in poor health outcomes. This state is related to chronic conditions, many of which are risk factors for outcomes in elderly patients having SARS-COV-2. This review aims to describe frailty as a physiological vulnerability agent during the COVID-19 pandemic in elderly patients, summarizing the direct and indirect effects caused by the SARS-COV-2 infection and its prognosis in frail individuals, as well as the interventions and recommendations to reduce their effects. Cohort studies have shown that patients with a Clinical Frailty Scale higher than five have a higher risk of mortality and use of mechanical ventilation after COVID-19; nonetheless, other scales have also associated frailty with longer hospital stays and more severe forms of the disease. Additionally, the indirect effects caused by the pandemic have a negative impact on the health status of older people. Due to the above, a holistic intervention is proposed based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment for frail patients (preventive or post-infection) with emphasis on physical activity and nutritional recommendations, which could be a potential preventive intervention in viral infections by COVID-19.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, frailty, older people, vulnerability, Functional foods, CGA, 【초록키워드】 pandemic, Mortality, Prognosis, mechanical ventilation, physical activity, COVID-19 pandemic, Infection, Intervention, outcome, risk factor, elderly patients, outcomes, Health, clinical, Patient, Health status, scale, recommendations, Elderly patient, chronic conditions, physiological, Hospital stay, Post-infection, Older, Stressor, higher risk, recommendation, Effects, FIVE, shown, resulting, caused, the disease, form, indirect effect, in viral, reduce, individuals, 【제목키워드】 Effect, Direct,