Abstract
The objective of this cohort study was to determine whether hypercalcemia in early COVID-19 was associated with 3-month mortality in frail elderly patients. Circulating calcium and albumin concentrations at hospital admission and 3-month mortality were assessed in geriatric patients hospitalized for COVID-19 with normal-to-high calcium concentrations. Hypercalcemia was defined as corrected calcium >2.5mmol/L. Covariables were age, sex, functional abilities, malignancies, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, number of acute health issues, use antibiotics and respiratory treatments. In total, 94 participants (mean±SD 88.0±5.5years; 47.9% women; 22.3% hypercalcemia; 0% hypocalcemia) were included. Sixty-five participants who survived at 3months exhibited less often hypercalcemia at baseline than the others (13.9% versus 41.4%, P=0.003). Hypercalcemia was associated with 3-month mortality (fully-adjusted HR=3.03, P=0.009) with specificity=0.86 and sensitivity=0.41. Those with hypercalcemia had shorter survival time than those with normocalcemia (log-rank P=0.002). In conclusion, hypercalcemia was associated with poorer survival in hospitalized frail elderly COVID-19 patients.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
