Centenarian Mortality Rate During COVID-19: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease Research

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected older adults, with high mortality rates globally.
• Existing research on COVID-19 mortality in older adults has a knowledge gap concerning centenarians.
• There is a lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on global COVID-19 mortality specifically in centenarians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize global evidence on COVID-19 mortality rates among centenarians.
• To compare COVID-19 mortality in centenarians with the broader older adult population worldwide.
• To analyze mortality data from centenarians and older adults in various healthcare settings, including long-term care facilities, hospitals, and home environments.

Main Methods:

• An automated literature search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
• Included studies were observational (cohort and case-control), with quality assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool.
• A meta-analysis of mortality proportions was conducted using R software, including heterogeneity assessment (I² value) and sensitivity analyses.

Main Results:

• The review included 4 studies: 3 retrospective cohort studies and 1 observational, retrospective case-control study.
• Study populations varied significantly in size, ranging from under 1000 to over 6 million participants.
• The meta-analysis synthesized data from over 6.7 million older adults, including centenarians.

Conclusions:

• Centenarians represent a highly vulnerable demographic during pandemics, necessitating targeted public health interventions.
• Addressing knowledge gaps in centenarian mortality is crucial for developing effective public policies.
• Informed policy development can help minimize the impact of health crises like COVID-19 on the oldest segment of the population.