Atypical Presentation of COVID-19 in Older Adults: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has currently well-described signs and symptoms. However, older adults often present with an atypical condition, which can confuse and delay diagnosis and treatment. Summary: A scoping review was performed according to Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and prepared using the PRISMA-ScR. It included 61 studies. The objectives were to identify the atypical symptoms of COVID-19 in older adults and summarize and synthesize the evidence regarding the clinical outcomes of older adults with atypical presentations of COVID-19. Fifty-eight atypical symptoms were identified. Geriatric syndromes were the most prevalent atypical presentations of COVID-19. The prevalence of older adults with atypical presentation was 29 ± 18.45%. The mortality rate of older adults with atypical presentation was 28.3 ± 10.26 (17–37%). Key Messages: This scoping review showed that geriatric syndromes represent a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in older adults. It is necessary to give visibility to those presentations in older populations with COVID-19 to advance the required interventions.