Why does COVID-19 disproportionately affect older people?
Aging (Albany NY)
; 12(10): 9959-9981, 2020 05 29.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-430864
ABSTRACT
The severity and outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) largely depends on a patient's age. Adults over 65 years of age represent 80% of hospitalizations and have a 23-fold greater risk of death than those under 65. In the clinic, COVID-19 patients most commonly present with fever, cough and dyspnea, and from there the disease can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung consolidation, cytokine release syndrome, endotheliitis, coagulopathy, multiple organ failure and death. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity increase the chances of fatal disease, but they alone do not explain why age is an independent risk factor. Here, we present the molecular differences between young, middle-aged and older people that may explain why COVID-19 is a mild illness in some but life-threatening in others. We also discuss several biological age clocks that could be used in conjunction with genetic tests to identify both the mechanisms of the disease and individuals most at risk. Finally, based on these mechanisms, we discuss treatments that could increase the survival of older people, not simply by inhibiting the virus, but by restoring patients' ability to clear the infection and effectively regulate immune responses.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Patient Care Management
/
Aging
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Epigenesis, Genetic
/
Pandemics
/
Immunity
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Aging (Albany NY)
Journal subject:
Geriatrics
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Aging.103344
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