Covid-19 study examines responses to illness in older people
TALLAGHT University Hospital is part of a large international study that aims to examine the variability in response to Covid-19 illness in older people.
The global effort includes leading clinical research facilities from 38 countries, which are together examining the reasons why Covid-19 can have severe clinical consequences in some people but not others.
The Irish contribution to this research came from the inclusion of older people who are part of a larger, separate research programme at Trinity College Dublin and Tallaght University Hospital (TUH).
Called the NH-Covair project, this unique study involves just under 100 nursing home residents in nursing homes affiliated with Tallaght University Hospital.
The TUH and Trinity study examines the relationship between frailty, clinical outcomes, immunophenotype and vaccine response in nursing home residents.
This is the first study internationally to focus on this population in particular; and is now feeding into collaborative global efforts to understand why some older people are more vulnerable to severe Covid-19 illness.
Professor Seán Kennelly, Consultant Physician in Geriatric and Stroke Medicine, Department of Age-related healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital and Clinical Associate Professor in Medical Gerontology, Trinity College is co-author of the study.
“This important study explains why COVID-19 can have severe clinical consequences in some people but not others,” he said.
“We were delighted to ensure Tallaght University Hospital and Trinity College Dublin were represented amongst this international consortium of leading clinical research institutes.
“We are extremely grateful for the generous support of local nursing home residents, staff, and families who participated in this study.”
Dr Adam Dyer, ICAT Fellow & Specialist Registrar in Geriatric Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, and Tallaght University Hospital, is the study lead on the ongoing, local NH-Covair project.
Dr Dyer believes that the findings of the global study, which have been published in the Science Immunology journal, emphasise the need to explore immune-system variability in older adults.
“As clinicians, we see an immense variability in morbidity and mortality in older adults infected with this virus, and exploring the underlying immunological reasons why is an urgent unmet clinical need,” he said.
The ongoing research project between Trinity and TUH, which has been supported by a Meath Foundation grant, aims to explore several possibilities for clinical care and treatment of Covid-19 illness over the coming years.
