Identification of risks and vulnerabilities in senior citizens to COVID-19, a primary health care study

Identification of risks and vulnerabilities in senior citizens to COVID-19, a primary health care study

Aniuska de los Angeles Tergas-Díaz, Luis Alcides Vázquez-González, Martha Elena Gutiérrez-Reyes, Miguel Miguel-Betancourt, Isabel Batista-Molina

Background: senior citizens are those more vulnerable and with greater risk to progress to serious forms of COVID-19.Objective: to identify risks and vulnerabilities to COVID-19 in senior citizens older than 65 years of age belonging to the “Manuel Piti Fajardo Rivero” University Polyclinic of the municipality of Las Tunas, from April to June 2020.Methods: an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 130 senior citizens belonging to the aforementioned health district and during the period herein declared. The following variables were assessed: age, sex, living with other people, past medical history, nutritional condition, visiting the emergency department, acquiescence in protection measures, assessment of the student active screening, among others.Results: there were more women (85 for 65,38 %) and adults between 65 and 70 years (53, 40,77 %). There was a predominance of those living with one or more persons (71,53 %), with a past medical history of cardiovascular conditions (69,23 %), normoweight (56,15 %), and movement restriction (40,79 %), non-visiting the emergency department (87,07 %). All of them wore the mask, observed the regular treatment for basic diseases (64,61 %), and, with symptoms as fever, reported to visit the doctor (90,76 %). The criterion on an adequate student active screening prevailed (97,69 %).Conclusions: advanced age and comorbidity with cardiovascular conditions were the risks identified for COVID-19.

2020

coronavirus, covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, students, Communicable Disease Control, health occupations, mandatory testing

Epidemiology and Health

Korean Society of Epidemiology

Medicine, Medicine (General)