Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and safety of older adults

Summary

According to experts, older adults with or without pre-existing chronic conditions are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and are also more likely to have severe cases requiring intubation, ventilator support, and intensive care. In fact, the CDC reports that about 8 of 10 COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have been adults over the age of 65 years, with the majority over 85 years of age.

The risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19 is an even greater problem in the almost 16,000 U.S. nursing homes, where there are concentrated numbers of older adults with chronic disease and frailty.

This PSNet Patient Safety Primer looks at the patient safety problems for older adults.