Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Illnesses Comparing Older with Young Adults.
BACKGROUND
Study of human coronavirus and other virus-associated respiratory illnesses is needed to describe their clinical effects on chronically ill, older adults.


METHODS
A prospective study during 2009 to 2013 clinically assessed acute respiratory illnesses soon after onset and 3 to 4 weeks later in patients aged ≥60 years with chronic lung and heart diseases (group 1, 100 subjects) and healthy adults aged 18 to 40 years (group 2, 101 subjects). Respiratory secretions were tested for nucleic acids of a panel of respiratory viruses. An increase in antibody titer was assessed for 4 coronavirus strains.


RESULTS
Virus-associated illnesses (29 [39.1%] of 74 illnesses in group 1 and 59 [48.7%] of 121 illnesses in group 2) occurred in all calendar quarters, most commonly in the first and fourth quarters. Coronaviruses (group 1: 14 [18.9%] illnesses; group 2: 26 [21.5%] illnesses) and enteroviruses/rhinoviruses (group 1: 14 [18.9%] illnesses; group 2: 37 [30.6%] illnesses) were most common. Virus co-infections occurred in 10 illnesses. Illnesses with 9 to 11 symptoms were more common in group 1 (17 [23.0%]) than in group 2 (15 [12.4%]) (P < .05). Compared with group 2, more group 1 subjects reported dyspnea, more severe disease of longer duration, and treatment for acute illness with prednisone and antibiotics. Coronavirus-associated illnesses (percent of illnesses, group 1 vs group 2) were characterized by myalgias (21% vs 68%, P < .01), chills (50% vs 52%), dyspnea (71% vs 24%, P < .01), headache (64% vs 72%), malaise (64% vs 84%), cough (86% vs 68%), sputum production (86% vs 60%), sore throat (64% vs 80%), and nasal congestion (93% vs 96%).


CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory illnesses were commonly associated with coronaviruses and enteroviruses/rhinoviruses affecting chronically ill, older patients more than healthy, young adults.
['Gorse|Geoffrey J|GJ|', 'Donovan|Mary M|MM|', 'Patel|Gira B|GB|', 'Balasubramanian|Sumitra|S|', 'Lusk|Rodney H|RH|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000367:Age Factors D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases D002908:Chronic Disease D060085:Coinfection D018352:Coronavirus Infections D017281:Cost of Illness D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006801:Humans D008171:Lung Diseases D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D008923:Missouri D011446:Prospective Studies D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections D012307:Risk Factors D012621:Seasons D012720:Severity of Illness Index D055815:Young Adult
Coronavirus Cardiopulmonary disease Elderly Epidemiology Rhinovirus Severity of illness Upper respiratory infection