Older Adults in the U.S. at Higher Risk of COVID-19 Hospitalization: CDC Report
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that older adults in the U.S. remain at a higher risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19. Between January and August 2023, adults aged 65 and older accounted for nearly 63% of all COVID-related hospitalizations. The majority of these patients had multiple underlying conditions, the most common being diabetes, kidney disorders, coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure or cardiomyopathy, and obesity.
“This is very important information that adds to what we already knew previously — that being over 65 years old, especially with chronic or pre-existing medical conditions, increases a person’s risk of hospitalization from COVID,” said Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor.
Disturbingly, the report also revealed that 76.5% of patients aged 65 and older were not up-to-date on their COVID vaccinations. Dr. Siegel emphasized the importance of vaccination, stating that “the vaccine helps protect against severe outcomes.” During the study period, hospitalization rates for adults aged 65 and older more than doubled.
The CDC report also recommended that older adults, especially those with underlying health conditions, should speak with their physician and consider taking the current COVID vaccine to reduce their risk of severe outcomes. However, the report acknowledged some limitations, including potential missed hospitalizations due to lack of testing and the possibility of misclassified symptoms. The data collected represented only about 10% of the U.S. population, so it might not be nationally generalizable.
Dr. Siegel and Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, both agreed that the elderly population and those with underlying health conditions should seriously consider vaccination. They also noted that while COVID-19 continues to pose a threat, its virulence and the number of hospitalizations are expected to decline over time as variants become less severe.
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About the Author:
Melissa Rudy is a health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
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