Aging and the COVID-19 pandemic: The inter-related roles of biology, physical wellbeing, social norms and global health systems. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baena, Cristina; Joarder, Taufique; Ahmed, Nasar U.; Chowdhury, Rajiv
• Is Part Of: Maturitas. Volume 167(2023)
• Page Start: 99
• Page End: 104
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Healthy aging -- Global health -- Health systems -- Low- and middle-income countries; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Climacteric -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Menopause -- Periodicals; Middle Aged -- Periodicals; Climatère -- Périodiques; Ménopause -- Périodiques; Climacterium; Climacteric; Menopause; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 612.66
• DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2022.07.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-5122

Abstract

Highlights: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a devastating and disproportionate impact on the elderly populations in terms of excess hospitalizations and deaths. The detrimental impact goes beyond higher clinical risk, which could be explained by several underlying biological pathways. These impacts also include widening of the existing global health disparities, and enhancement of social and economic vulnerabilities among older adults. As the global population continues to age, elderly-focused health services should be integrated into the global health systems and global strategies. Such reforms are particularly warranted in low- and middle-income settings with historically underfunded public health infrastructure and insufficient elderly care. Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a devastating and disproportionate impact on the elderly population. As the virus has swept through the world, already vulnerable elderly populations worldwide have faced a far greater burden of deaths and severe disease, crippling isolation, widespread societal stigma, and wide-ranging practical difficulties in maintaining access to basic health care and social services – all of which have had significant detrimental effects on their mental and physical wellbeing. In this paper, we present an overview of aging and COVID-19 from the interrelated perspectives of underlying biological mechanisms, physical manifestations, societal aspects, and health services related to the excess risk observed among the elderly population. We conclude that to tackle future pandemics in an efficient manner, it is essential to reform national health systems and response strategies from an age perspective. As the global population continues to age, elderly-focused health services should be integrated into the global health systems and global strategies, especially in low- and middle-income countries with historically underfunded public health infrastructure and insufficient gerontological care.