Three pandemics at once: Noninfectious (cancer), infectious (COVID-19), and behavioral (hypokinesia)

The narrative review addresses the evidence that physical activity can improve the results of prevention and treatment and of the conditions that feature increased risks of their development with aging. The main attention is paid to cancer and problems arising because of physical activity limitations associated with COVID-19 pandemic. To promote physical activity, which is known to reduce the risks of COVID-19 complications and of cancer, it is important to help patients and physicians in understanding the reasons why physical activity can be beneficial, more than the pharmacological means thought to reproduce some of its effects, in cancer prevention and treatment upon all differences between the locations of tumors and the pathways of carcinogenesis. Therefore, the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind the usefulness of physical activity in oncology are discussed. Based on this discussion, data on quantitative relationships between oncological risks, physical activity, and the use of its alleged pharmacological mimetics are addressed. © 2021 Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved.

Theory and Practice of Aging during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract: Never before in history has population aging been a driving factor in epidemics to the same extent as with the current COVID-19 pandemic, with its dramatic shift in mortality towards older age groups. The paper presents the results of an analysis of the COVID-19-related mortality data for Spain, Italy, and Sweden, which show that within the 30- to 90-year age range, the logarithms of mortality rate depend on age linearly, and all regression lines are strictly parallel to the lines corresponding to the dependencies of the general mortality on age in accordance with the Gompertz law. In all cases, irrespective of the countries and epidemic stages, the mortality doubling times within this age range are close to 7.5 years. The probabilities of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the causative agent of COVID-19, and of the development of the clinical symptoms of infection depend on age to a much lesser extent. Based on these observations, three main points are proposed for discussion: (1) Older people have become the main victims not only of SARS-CoV-2 itself but also of the measures undertaken to prevent its spread;(2) At the same time, older people are not the main force driving the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and (3) Older people can and should participate in the fight against the pandemic and in overcoming its consequences, but not through their selective isolation and other forms of discrimination. People over 65 years of age make up a considerable segment of the population and have at least as much right as other age groups to have their needs and interests be respected and observed, including the right to as high quality of life as is accessible even in extreme situations. The prospects for full control over SARS-CoV-2 are vague. This is why those who are in charge of decisions that concern people over 65 years of age should mind that, unlike the situation in the Middle Ages, the age of 65+ is the individual future of almost everyone. © 2020, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.

THEORY AND PRACTICE OF AGING UPON <i>COVID</i>-19 PANDEMIC

Never before in history, aging was such a significant factor for epidemics as it is now for the current COVID -19 pandemic, which features a drastic shift of mortality towards older ages. Our analysis of data on COVID -19-related mortality in Spain, Italy, and Sweden has shown that, in the range of 30 to 90 years of age, each dependency of the logarithm of mortality upon age is linear, and all regression lines are strictly parallel to those related to the total mortality in accordance with the Gompertz law. In all cases, irrespective of the stage and place of epidemic, mortality doubling time in this age range is close to 7,5 years. The rates of being infected with the SARS-CoV- 2 coronavirus and of being diagnosed due to the symptomatic manifestations of the infection are dependent on age to a far lesser degree. With account for these observations, three messages are put forth: 1) Older persons are the principal victims of both SARSCoV- 2 and measures undertaken to control its spread;2) Older persons are not the principal driving force of SARS-CoV- 2 spread;3) Older persons can and should be engaged in combating the pandemic and its consequences;however, not via selective social distancing and other discriminative measures. People aged over 65 years constitute a signifi cant part of the current population. They have specific interests and needs, which deserve no less respect than those of any other age group. This includes the right for the quality of life that remains sustained under the emergency conditions. Since the prospects for controlling the SARS-CoV- 2 are dubious, those in charge of decisions concerning «people aged above 65» should mind that currently, unlike in the medieval ages, 65+ is the individual future of almost everyone. Никогда прежде в истории старение населения не было фактором развития эпидемий в такой степени, как при текущей пандемии COVID -19 с ее резким сдвигом смертности к старшим возрастным группам. Представленные в настоящей статье результаты анализа данных по смертности от COVID -19 в Испании, Италии и Швеции показывают, что в диапазоне 30-90 лет зависимости логарифмов смертности от возраста ложатся на прямые, строго параллельные линиям зависимости общей смертности от возраста в соответствии с законом Гомпертца. Во всех случаях, независимо от стадии эпидемии и страны наблюдения, периоды удвоения смертности в этом возрастном диапазоне близки к 7,5 годам. Вероятности заражения возбудителем COVID -19, коронавирусом SARS-CoV- 2, и симптоматического проявления инфекции зависят от возраста в гораздо меньшей степени. На этих основаниях обсуждены три положения: 1) люди пожилого возраста стали главными жертвами не только самого SARS-CoV- 2, но и мер, предпринимаемых против его распространения;2) при этом люди пожилого возраста не являются основными агентами распространения SARS-CoV- 2;3) люди старшего возраста могут и должны быть включены в борьбу с пандемией и в преодоление её последствий, но не путем избирательной изоляции и других форм дискриминации. Люди старше 65 лет составляют значительную часть населения и имеют не меньшее, чем граждане другого возраста, право на уважение и соблюдение их нужд и интересов, включая право на качество доступной жизни даже в экстремальных ситуациях. Перспективы полного контроля SARS-CoV- 2 неясны. Поэтому всем, кто принимает решения относительно лиц старше 65 лет, надо иметь в виду, что в настоящее время, в отличие от средневековья, 65+ - это личное будущее практически для каждого.

[Theory and practice of aging upon COVID-19 pandemic.]

Never before in history, aging was such a significant factor for epidemics as it is now for the current COVID-19 pandemic, which features a drastic shift of mortality towards older ages. Our analysis of data on COVID-19-related mortality in Spain, Italy, and Sweden has shown that, in the range of 30 to 90 years of age, each dependency of the logarithm of mortality upon age is linear, and all regression lines are strictly parallel to those related to the total mortality in accordance with the Gompertz law. In all cases, irrespective of the stage and place of epidemic, mortality doubling time in this age range is close to 7,5 years. The rates of being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and of being diagnosed due to the symptomatic manifestations of the infection are dependent on age to a far lesser degree. With account for these observations, three messages are put forth: 1) Older persons are the principal victims of both SARS-CoV-2 and measures undertaken to control its spread;2) Older persons are not the principal driving force of SARS-CoV-2 spread;3) Older persons can and should be engaged in combating the pandemic and its consequences;however, not via selective social distancing and other discriminative measures. People aged over 65 years constitute a significant part of the current population. They have specific interests and needs, which deserve no less respect than those of any other age group. This includes the right for the quality of life that remains sustained under the emergency conditions. Since the prospects for controlling the SARS-CoV-2 are dubious, those in charge of decisions concerning «people aged above 65» should mind that currently, unlike in the medieval ages, 65+ is the individual future of almost everyone.