COVID-19: Impact of Pandemic on Older People Health and Well-Being

ABSTRACT

Since March 2020 and the declaration of pandemic, we may consider that three categories of disease are striking worldwide, COVID-19, a surge of noncommunicable diseases which due to COVID-19 are less treated and considered, and agism. COVID-19 is known to be sever in frail older people, with poor outcomes and often our older patients are frail. Moreover, frailty and COVID-19 share a proinflammatory cytokines cascade which may lead to an increase of mortality in these patients. COVID-19 lockdown also has led and is leading to several psychological disorders, notably in older people and older people with cognitive impairment. Patients in rural settings, primary care, and nursing homes with frailty were severely affected with COVID-19, also in their social and familial relationship. It is a crucial task for both general practitioners and geriatricians to assess and treat their older patients even in this context, notwithstanding the obstacles and limitations, levering eventually on e-health and ICT. © 2022, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.