New study shows that most coronavirus deaths in the U.S. happen to people 65 and older.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 80 percent of deaths associated with coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) were among people 65 and older. The highest percentage of severe outcomes was recorded in individuals aged over 85.
People aged 65 and older also accounted for 31 percent of cases, 45 percent of hospitalizations, 53 percent of ICU admissions, the report states.
The report "Severe Outcomes Among Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) — United States, February 12–March 16, 2020" revealed that 38 percent of the U.S. patients known to have been hospitalized for COVID-19 were between age 20 and 54.
CDC's findings were based on 508 of the first 2,449 coronavirus patients in the U.S. The high rate of hospitalization for younger adults mirrors the figures recorded by France and Italy.
Moreover, the CDC stated that of the 2,449 patients examined, 6 percent were 85 and older, 25 percent were 65 to 84, 29 percent were 20 to 44, and 5 percent were 19 and younger.
"I think everyone should be paying attention to this," Columbia University epidemiologist Stephen S. Morse said during an interview with The New York Times.
"It's not just going to be the elderly. There will be people age 20 and up. They do have to be careful, even if they think that they're young and healthy."
"If that many younger people are being hospitalized, that means that there are a lot of young people in the community that are walking around with the infection," putting older and sicker people at risk, according to Dr. Christopher Carlsten, the head of respiratory medicine at the University of British Columbia.
CDC emphasizes in its report that "COVID-19 can result in severe disease, including hospitalization, admission to an intensive care unit, and death, especially among older adults."
"Everyone can take actions, such as social distancing, to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect older adults from severe illness."
