Published on June 2020 | Public Health

A Review on Biological and Co-Morbidity as Potential Factors for COVID 19 Heavy Morbidity and Mortality Among the Elderly and Their Implications on Public Health Scenario in India

Aim of this Article: The main aim of this article is to explain how biological changes in the ageing process and comorbidity (presence of one or more additional conditions) increase the risk of the aged to COVID 19 morbidity and mortality. Study objectives: Primary objective 1. To review publications and other studies associated with biological changes in the ageing process as well as identifying some specific comorbidity among the aged Secondary objective 1. To develop appropriate health educational programs to protect the aged population on COVID 19 2. To develop an educational strategy on COVID 19 for the aged and the general public. According to Prof Walter Ricciardi, scientific adviser to Italy’s Minister of Health, the country’s mortality rate is far higher due to demographics - the nation has the second oldest population worldwide. Again, most of the deaths in Italy also have comorbid conditions (presence of more than one disease in one person) from 1 to 3 in addition to Covid 19 and most of these conditions are age related. The conditions range from cardiovascular, diabetes, respiratory disorders and cancers. All these conditions were identified in some studies in Italy and China. In Italy for example 48.5% had 3 conditions in addition to Covid 19, 25.6% had 2 conditions, and 25.1% had 1 condition and 0.8% died from only Covid 19. CDC examined the first 4,200 U.S. cases and found 508 (12%) of patients were hospitalized, and of those, 121 were known to be admitted to an intensive care unit, and 44 patients died. Similar to China, both hospitalization and mortality rates increased with increasing age, though this data indicated 20% of hospitalized patients and 12% of patients admitted to an ICU were ages 20-44. Nine patients age 20-44 died, though in the entire group most deaths were among adults ages 65 and older. It is clear from the above that Covid19 19 has devastating effect on the aged and patients with comorbidity