Since COVID-19’s onset, public health awareness has surged, but the virus remains a threat—especially for older adults. A recent study revealed that older patients who died within a year of their hospitalization for COVID-19 were less likely to be vaccinated. Here’s why older adults are more susceptible to the virus and what they can to do prevent contracting and transmitting it.
Navigating the Ongoing Threat of COVID-19: Recommendations for Older Adults
Dive into the latest research and recommendations on COVID-19 in older adults.
10/28/2024
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Much has changed since COVID-19 shook the world to its core in 2020. People are now more conscientious of their health than ever before to limit the spread of the virus that has resulted in over 7 million deaths worldwide, per the World Health Organization. And while things have mostly returned to “normal,” COVID-19 is still very much a threat, and it is key to continue using preventative measures administered during the height of the pandemic.
Staying up to date with vaccines and getting boosters has become an effective method of stifling COVID-19’s spread, though there has been a reluctance among some groups to embrace these newer forms of immunization. This is particularly true for older demographics, despite those individuals being more at risk.
As individuals age, their immune system weakens. This can result in increased susceptibility to viral infections, including COVID-19. Consequently, this may lead to complications if they do contract a virus.
Increased Mortality for Older Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
A recent study published in Nature showed how older patients with COVID-19 fared after their hospitalization. The study focused on 66,810 patients aged 60 or older who were hospitalized due to COVID-19; 63,369 survived their hospitalization. Of those survivors, 3,093 patients died within the next year. Many of these patients were considerably less likely to be vaccinated than those who survived beyond a year after hospitalization. However, a sizable portion of this group also suffered from pre-existing heart conditions and required intensive medical support during their hospitalization.
These findings highlight how age, pre-existing health conditions, and vaccination status and correlate with mortality rates among COVID-19 patients.
Symptoms of COVID-19
It is critical to be aware of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and this is especially true for older individuals. COVID-19 can present a host of indicators. Though some symptoms may overlap with the flu or common cold, individuals should still be mindful of a possible COVID-19 contraction when experiencing:
- Coughing
- Loss of taste and/or smell
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Body aches
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
Individuals with the following symptoms should seek medical attention immediately:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Discoloration of the lips and/or face
How to Avoid Contracting and Transmitting COVID-19
While COVID-19 is highly contagious, individuals can keep themselves and their communities safe by following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommended COVID-19 guidelines.
Getting Vaccinated: Staying up to date on vaccines doesn’t guarantee immunity from COVID-19, but it does mitigate risk of transmission.
Wearing a Mask: Masks can help decrease the spread of COVID-19. The use of nonsurgical N95 masks is encouraged as cloth masks are often less dependable.
Avoiding Large Gatherings: Those who present COVID-19 symptoms or who may have come in contact with someone with the virus should isolate themselves.
Taking COVID-19 Tests: COVID-19 can sometimes present with no symptoms at all, so it is critical that asymptomatic individuals test themselves to avoid spreading the virus.
References:
Kim, E., Kim, J.-Y., Moon, K. M., Kim, T. W., Kim, W.-Y., Jung, S., & Baek, M. S. (2024, October 22). One-year mortality and associated factors in older hospitalized COVID-19 survivors: A nationwide cohort study in Korea. Nature News. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-76871-3
World Health Organization. (n.d.-a). Covid-19 deaths | who covid-19 dashboard. World Health Organization. https://data.who.int/dashboards/covid19/deaths?n=o
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). How to protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/prevention/index.html#:~:text=Wearing%20a%20mask%20and%20putting,spreading%20COVID%2D19%20to%20others.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-b). Symptoms of COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/index.html
Zhang, D., Zhou, W., Poon, P. K.-M., Kwok, K. O., Chui, T. W.-S., Hung, P. H. Y., Ting, B. Y. T., Chan, D. C.-C., & Wong, S. Y.-S. (2022, July 13). Vaccine resistance and hesitancy among older adults who live alone or only with an older partner in community in the early stage of the fifth wave of covid-19 in Hong Kong. Vaccines. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9324439/#abstract1
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