Covid fatality in patients aged between 18 to 50 higher than in 65+: AIIMS study

June 29: It’s usually believed that Covid fatality is more among the 60 plus population in our country. But a recent study carried on by AIIMS suggested that contrary to this popular belief, those within the age group of 18 to 50 years have died the most due to coronavirus.

COVID-19 fatality in people under the age of 50 is higher than those above the age of 65, a single-center retrospective study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi has suggested. A study published in the Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, authored by AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, Chief of the AIIMS trauma center Dr Rajesh Malthotra, and several others, covered dead adult patients who were admitted between April 4 to July 24, 2020.

During the period, a total of 654 adult patients were admitted to the ICU, out of which, 247 died. A 37.7 per cent mortality was recorded. Adult patients were further divided into age groups of 18 to 50, 51 to 65 and above 65, to compare their clinical characteristics and outcomes. The study shows 42.1 per cent were between 18-50, 34.8 per cent from 51-65 and 23.1 per cent above 65.

The study finds that the most common comorbidities were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. Data of all the patients who died in the ICU were collected from their electronic medic report, patients daily progress chart as well as nursing notes.