Heterogeneity in COVID-19 infection among older persons in South Africa: Evidence from national surveillance data

Frontiers in Public Health

Public Health

Nada Abdelatif¹  Mikateko Mazinu¹  Tarylee Reddy²  Inbarani Naidoo³  Candice Groenewald⁴  Zaynab Essack⁵  Benjamin Roberts⁶  Nokukhanya Msomi⁷  Khangelani Zuma⁸  Pranitha Maharaj⁹  Shanaaz Dunn⁹ 

[1] Biostatistics Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa;Biostatistics Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa;Centre for Community Based Research, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa;Centre for Community Based Research, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa;Honorary Research Associate, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa;Centre for Community Based Research, Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa;Honorary Research Fellow, School of Law, and Honorary Research Associate, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa;Developmental, Capable and Ethical State Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa;Discipline of Virology, University of KwaZulu-Natal and National Health Laboratory Services, Durban, South Africa;Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa;Wits School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa;School of Built Environment and Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa;

关键词: older adult people;    heterogeneity;    COVID-19;    surveillance;    South Africa;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2023.1009309

 received in 2022-08-01, accepted in 2023-02-24,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe 2021 World Health Organization study on the impact of COVID-19 on older people (≥60 years) in the African region highlighted the difficulties they faced as the virus spread across borders and dominated the way of life. These difficulties included disruptions to both essential health care services and social support, as well as disconnections from family and friends. Among those who contracted COVID-19, the risks of severe illness, complications, and mortality were highest among near-old and older persons.ObjectiveRecognizing that older persons are a diverse group including younger- and older-aged individuals, a study was conducted to track the epidemic among near-old (50–59 years) and older persons (≥60 years) in South Africa covering the 2 years since the epidemic emerged.MethodsUsing a quantitative secondary research approach, data for near-old and older persons were extracted for comparative purposes. COVID-19 surveillance outcomes (confirmed cases, hospitalizations, and deaths) and vaccination data were compiled up to March 5th, 2022. COVID-19 surveillance outcomes were plotted by epidemiological week and epidemic waves to visualize the overall growth and trajectory of the epidemic. Means for each age-group and by COVID-19 waves, together with age-specific rates, were calculated.ResultsAverage numbers of new COVID-19 confirmed cases and hospitalizations were highest among people aged 50–59- and 60–69-years. However, average age-specific infection rates showed that people aged 50–59 years and ≥80 years were most vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. Age-specific hospitalization and death rates increased, with people aged ≥ 70 years most affected. The number of people vaccinated was slightly higher among people aged 50–59 years before Wave Three and during Wave Four, but higher among people aged ≥ 60 years during Wave Three. The findings suggest that uptake of vaccinations stagnated prior to and during Wave Four for both age groups.DiscussionHealth promotion messages and COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance and monitoring are still needed, particularly for older persons living in congregate residential and care facilities. Prompt health-seeking should be encouraged, including testing and diagnosis as well as taking up vaccines and boosters, particularly for high-risk older persons.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Abdelatif, Naidoo, Dunn, Mazinu, Essack, Groenewald, Maharaj, Msomi, Reddy, Roberts and Zuma.