Why does COVID-19 disproportionately affect older people?

The severity and outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) largely depends on a patient's age. Adults over 65 years of age represent 80% of hospitalizations and have a 23-fold greater risk of death than those under 65. In the clinic, COVID-19 patients most commonly present with fever, cough and dyspnea, and from there the disease can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung consolidation, cytokine release syndrome, endotheliitis, coagulopathy, multiple organ failure and death. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity increase the chances of fatal disease, but they alone do not explain why age is an independent risk factor. Here, we present the molecular differences…

• GF
  Glenn Foundation for Medical Research

  Awards: R01 DK100263, R37 AG028730
• FP
  Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R01 DK100263, R37 AG028730, DK100263, AG028730, COVID-19