According to WHO, men are more likely than women to die from coronavirus. The female immune system is more resistant to this disease. But if we talk about the danger posed by COVID-19, what is more important is the age at which a person contracted the infection. In different countries, information about the age of deaths from coronavirus is different. This is due to the presence of other diseases in patients and the quality of medical care.
Do old people really get sick and die?
A similar study was carried out by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. According to its results, in 80% of those infected, the disease proceeds in a mild form. The risk of complications predominantly occurs in older people who previously suffered from chronic diseases.
Today, there are more than 125,000 carriers of the virus worldwide. This was reported at the research Johns Hopkins University. At the same time, 68 thousand people recovered, and 4,800 died. The infection is spreading rapidly around the world. About 2,500 new cases of its occurrence are detected per day.
In all countries, the age of those who died from coronavirus varies in the same limit. Average: 60-70 years old. Full mortality data is not known, but there have been no official deaths among young people.
The youngest patient who died from the disease was 48 years old. This is a woman from China. She previously suffered from diabetes and suffered a stroke.
In Europe, Italy has become the hotspot for the spread of the virus from Wuhan. In this country, public events are banned, schools are closed and the movement of people is restricted. The average age of the dead here is even more than the global figure. He is 81 years old. These are, in the vast majority, men who previously had several chronic diseases.
Among children, the percentage of patients with coronavirus is minimal. Doctors explain this by saying that the child's immunity is better able to cope with viruses. Adults and the elderly are more affected by the coronavirus. Here, doctors draw an analogy with measles and chickenpox: at an early age, such infectious diseases disappear with minimal consequences, and sometimes completely asymptomatic.
Based on statistics, we can say that older people are more susceptible to COVID-19. The older the person, the more severe the disease for him. Children do not have immunity to the virus, but those who fall ill before the age of 9 often do not need medical attention at all. The average age of those who have recovered is 52 years. Such data was published by the medical journal The Lancet.
Average age of people infected with coronavirus
COVID-19 has affected more than 100 countries on different continents. Most of the cases are in mainland China. Johns Hopkins University has published the composition of patients with coronavirus by age and nationality:
- 81 thousand patients are in China. Most of these people live in Wuhan, where the first case of the disease was recorded. In total, there are over 3 thousand deaths in China. 17,000 people are still undergoing treatment, 5,000 are in serious condition. The average age of the patients is 45 years.
- In non-mainland China (Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan), the coronavirus spreads on a much smaller scale. About 170 patients were registered here. Victims - 4.
- In Italy, the number of infected is approaching 12,500. 1,045 patients have already recovered. Angelo Borrelli, head of the country's civil defense department, said 1,016 people had died. The average age of patients is 65 years.
- The third largest focus of the disease is in South Korea. There are 54 deaths out of 7.5 thousand infected here. 247 patients have recovered. Most of the patients are in the province of North Gyeongsang and the city of Daegu.
- Slightly fewer infected in Iran. Baghdad identified 7,200 diseases. Died - 237, and cured - 2,400 people.
The average age of people with coronavirus worldwide is 41 years. This was stated by representatives of the All-Russian public movement “Volunteers. Medics."
- In Japan, 1,226 carriers of COVID-19 were registered. In France - 1,312 infected and 30 deaths. In Germany - 1,231 and 2 dead. And in Spain - 1,224, died - 30. Also in Europe, outbreaks of the disease were detected in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK. Doctors found 321, 374 and 320 infected, respectively.
- In the United States, 750 people have tested positive for coronavirus.
- In Russia, the number of cases reaches 45, in Ukraine - 3, in Belarus - 27, and in Kazakhstan - 2.
Mortality data by age
According to the WHO, the death rate from COVID-19 in the world is 3.4%. At the same time, the Chinese State Committee for Hygiene and Health released statistics on mortality by age within the country:
- there are no victims among children under 9;
- from 10 to 19 - 0.2%;
- from 20 to 29 - 0.2%;
- from 30 to 39 - 0.2%;
- from 40 to 49 - 0.4%;
- from 50 to 59 - 1.3%;
- from 60 to 69 - 3.6%;
- from 70 to 79 - 8%;
- over 80 years old - 14.8%.
How does age affect the course of the disease?
People who are physically healthy, do not have chronic diseases, and also have strong immunity can easily tolerate coronavirus. The disease does not lead to death.
For those over 50 years of age, it is more difficult to cope with symptoms. Doctors explain this by the fact that COVID-19 in the early stages causes severe inflammation, affecting the lungs. In young people, tissues are more elastic and can recover. In the elderly, such disorders in the body have a chance to lead to respiratory arrest and death.
Coronavirus refers to acute respiratory viral infections and can cause complications that are characteristic of other acute respiratory viral infections: bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia.
Referring to these data, we can conclude that COVID-19 is most dangerous for people over 50 who have problems with the cardiovascular system, have diabetes, Parkinson's disease, or suffer from hypertension and oncology.