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. 2021 Jun;51(4):380-382.
doi: 10.1016/j.idnow.2020.12.007. Epub 2021 Jan 18.

Do not neglect SARS-CoV-2 hospitalization and fatality risks in the middle-aged adult population

Affiliations

Do not neglect SARS-CoV-2 hospitalization and fatality risks in the middle-aged adult population

Nathanael Lapidus et al. Infect Dis Now. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed at estimating the SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalization (IHR) and infection fatality ratios (IFR) in France.

Patients and methods: A serosurvey was conducted in 9782 subjects from the two French regions with the highest incidence of COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic and coupled with surveillance data.

Results: IHR and IFR were 2.7% and 0.49% overall. Both were higher in men and increased exponentially with age. The relative risks of hospitalization and death were 2.1 (95% CI: 1.9-2.3) and 3.8 (2.4-4.2) per 10-year increase, meaning that IHR and IFR approximately doubled every 10 and 5 years, respectively. They were dramatically high in the very elderly (80-90 years: IHR: 26%, IFR: 9.2%), and also substantial in younger adults (40-50 years: IHR: 0.98%, IFR: 0.042%).

Conclusions: These findings support the need for comprehensive preventive measures to help reduce the spread of the virus, even in young or middle-aged adults.

Keywords: Adult; Age-Specific Death Rate; COVID-19; France; SARS-CoV-2.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Infection hospitalization ratio and infection fatality ratio with 95% confidence intervals by sex and age class: A. Infection hospitalization ratio. B. Infection fatality ratio.

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