The Experience of The COVID-19 Pandemic in a Population-Based Study of Cognitive Aging (P5-10.001)

Abstract

<h3>Objective:</h3> To describe the COVID-19 pandemic experience (i.e., testing, infections, hospitalizations, patient characteristics) in participants of the population-based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. <h3>Background:</h3> Older adults are at higher risk of worse outcomes following COVID-19 infection, especially those with comorbidities, including cognitive impairment <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> In a cohort of 4429 MCSA participants, we retrieved COVID-19 testing from March 2020 to September 2022 using the Rochester Epidemiology Project resources. In addition, we assessed “severe infection,” defined as hospitalization within 7 days before to 3 months after a positive test. All participants undergo a comprehensive cognitive evaluation in MCSA at every visit. Chi-squared tests and t-tests for two samples with equal variances were used to compare groups <h3>Results:</h3> 3399 (76.7%) participants were ever tested for COVID-19 infection, and 956 (mean age (SD) at first positive test: 71.3 (15.5) years; 51.3% male) tested positive. Participants who underwent testing (ever vs. never tested) were on average older, with higher body mass index (BMI), higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), and were more likely to be retired. Participants who tested positive (vs. negative) were on average younger, less likely to have cognitive impairment or be retired and had lower CCI. Participants with “severe infection” (N=212 (22.2%); vs. not “severe”) were on average significantly older, more likely to have cognitive impairment, higher CCI, higher national Area Deprivation Index ranking, fewer years of education and were more likely to be retired <h3>Conclusions:</h3> MCSA participants who tested positive were more likely to be younger and not cognitively impaired while those with severe infections were likely to be older and cognitively impaired. Our findings from a population-based study add to accumulating knowledge that suggests the importance of age and cognitive impairment for COVID-19 severe infection, eliminating reporting bias. Findings underscore valuable information to consider in future pandemic prevention interventions <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Ghoniem has nothing to disclose. Jeremiah Aakre has nothing to disclose. Anna Castillo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Elminawy has nothing to disclose. The institution of Dr. Machulda has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Geda has received research support from NIH. Dr. Vemuri has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Miller Medical Communications Inc.. The institution of Dr. Vemuri has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Jack has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Jack has received research support from Alexander Family Alzheimer’s Disease Research Professorship of the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Graff-Radford has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Graff-Radford has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for NINDS/NIH. Dr. Graff-Radford has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for American Academy of Neurology. The institution of Dr. Graff-Radford has received research support from NIH. Dr. Knopman has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for DIAN TU study. The institution of Dr. Knopman has received research support from NIH. Dr. Petersen has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Roche. Dr. Petersen has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Merck. Dr. Petersen has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Genentech. Dr. Petersen has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Nestle. Dr. Petersen has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Genentech, Inc.. Dr. Petersen has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Roche, Inc.. Dr. Petersen has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Dr. Petersen has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. The institution of Dr. Vassilaki has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd . Dr. Vassilaki has stock in Abbott Laboratories. Dr. Vassilaki has stock in Johnson and Johnson. Dr. Vassilaki has stock in Medtronic. Dr. Vassilaki has stock in Amgen. Dr. Vassilaki has stock in AbbVie. Dr. Vassilaki has stock in Merck. The institution of Dr. Vassilaki has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Vassilaki has received research support from European Union/ St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Czech Republic. The institution of an immediate family member of Dr. Vassilaki has received research support from Avobis Bio, LLC.