Age modifies both the maximal temperature and inflammatory response in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Crooks, Colin J; West, Joe; Morling, Joanne R; Simmonds, Mark; Juurlink, Irene; Briggs, Steve; Cruickshank, Simon; Hammond-Pears, Susan; Shaw, Dominick; Card, Timothy R; Fogarty, Andrew

Abstract

Objective To determine the maximal response of the temperature and inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and how these are modified by age.

Methods Participants were patients admitted to hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infection. For each participant, the maximal temperature and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) were identified and stratified by age. In a secondary analysis, these were compared in patients treated before and after dexamethasone.

Results Mean maximal temperature varied by age (p<0.001; ANOVA) with the highest mean maximal temperature of 37.3°C observed in patients aged 30–49 years and decreasing maximal mean temperatures in the older age groups, with the lowest measure of 36.8°C observed in individuals aged 90–99 years. The mean maximal serum CRP also varied across age groups (p<0.001; ANOVA) and increased with age across all age categories from 34.5 mg/dL (95% confidence interval (CI) 22.0–47.0) for individuals aged 20–29 years to 77.6 mg/dL (95% CI 72.0–83.2) in those aged 80–89 years. After dexamethasone became standard treatment for COVID-19 pneumonia, mean maximal CRP decreased by 17 mg/dL (95% CI −22 to −11).

Conclusion Age modifies both maximal temperature and systemic inflammatory response in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Citation

Crooks, C. J., West, J., Morling, J. R., Simmonds, M., Juurlink, I., Briggs, S., …Fogarty, A. (2022). Age modifies both the maximal temperature and inflammatory response in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical Medicine, 22(3), 192-196. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmed.2021-0603

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 6, 2022
• Online Publication Date: May 18, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Deposit Date: Mar 4, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: May 31, 2022
• Journal: Clinical Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1470-2118
• Electronic ISSN: 1473-4893
• Publisher: Royal College of Physicians
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 192-196
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmed.2021-0603
• Keywords: Covid-19 infection; temperature; CRP; systemic inflammation; corticosteroids
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7537118
• Publisher URL: https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/clinmedicine/22/3/192