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Characteristics and outcomes of older patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Japan

Kenta Tanaka1, Ling Zha1, Tetsuhisa Kitamura1

  • 1Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan.

Geriatrics & Gerontology International
|June 10, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Older adults in Japan with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) faced an 8.5% mortality rate, increasing significantly with age. Male sex, comorbidities, and severe symptoms were linked to higher COVID-19 death risk in this demographic.

Area of Science:

  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Limited data exists on the specific epidemiological characteristics, in-hospital treatments, and outcomes for older patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan.
  • Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted interventions and improving care for the aging population affected by the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics, in-hospital treatments, and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in older patients in Japan.
  • To identify factors associated with mortality among older COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective observational study was conducted in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, involving patients aged 60 years and above with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between January and November 2020.
  • Mortality during the observation period was the primary outcome, analyzed using Cox regression to assess the association between epidemiological factors and death.

Main Results:

  • Older patients constituted 21.5% of all registered COVID-19 cases, with mortality increasing progressively with age categories (1.9% for 60-69 years to 20.4% for ≥90 years).
  • The overall mortality rate was 8.5% (271/3192).
  • Advanced age (70-79, 80-89, ≥90 years), male sex, comorbidities, institutional cluster cases, and moderate/severe symptoms at diagnosis were significantly associated with higher mortality risk.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights the significant impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on older populations in Japan, with a notable increase in mortality correlating with advancing age.
  • Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors for mortality were identified, emphasizing the need for age-specific healthcare strategies.
  • The findings underscore the vulnerability of elderly individuals to severe outcomes from COVID-19.
Abstract

Keywords:
SARS-CoV-2elderlyepidemiologymortalitysurvival analysis

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