LUCKNOW: A significant 60% of the coronavirus positive patients in Uttar Pradesh are below 40 years of age, according to an analysis of available data. Also, contrary to projected trend that more elderly would be affected by coronavirus than the younger ones, a vast majority of cases in UP are below the age of 60 years.
“Only about 13% of the patients are above 60 years of age while 70% of the patients fall in the 21 to 60 years age group. Data showed that 16% of the patients in UP were below 20 years of age while 44% fell in the 21-40 years age group. The pattern is reflective of the national scenario where 75% of the patients fall in the 21-60 years age group,” said state surveillance officer, Vikasendu Agarwal on Wednesday.
In fact, six patients including five in Gautam Buddha Nagar and one in Lucknow are below 10 years of age. The youngest patient is the child of a covid-19 patient in Noida.
On the reasons behind high number of young covid cases in state, demographers said: “About 54% of India’s population belongs to the 21- 60 years age group. They are the ones who travelled across different countries and then came back with the infection. Also, they are the ones who moved out of the homes to fetch groceries and essential items during the lock down period. In all, they gave been easy targets for the pandemic virus.”
Specialist in community medicine and public health research, Vishwajit Kumar said: “We are at the early stages of the epidemic and the infection was imported into India by travellers who are more likely to be in this age group. But the biggest reason is that our testing strategy so far has not been based on severity of cases i.e. those needing hospitalisation, but those with a positive travel history. The age distribution of cases is likely to change if our testing strategy shifts to prioritise more severe cases as the pandemic progresses.”
Fewer elderly patients doesn’t mean any less risk for the 60 plus, warn experts in geriatric health. “The fact that most elderly are suffer with at least one kind of a lifestyle disease such as diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular condition makes is an undeniable fact. Families must continue to take care of their elderly ensure sanitisation and infection control measures around them,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, specialist in geriatric health issues.
“Only about 13% of the patients are above 60 years of age while 70% of the patients fall in the 21 to 60 years age group. Data showed that 16% of the patients in UP were below 20 years of age while 44% fell in the 21-40 years age group. The pattern is reflective of the national scenario where 75% of the patients fall in the 21-60 years age group,” said state surveillance officer, Vikasendu Agarwal on Wednesday.
In fact, six patients including five in Gautam Buddha Nagar and one in Lucknow are below 10 years of age. The youngest patient is the child of a covid-19 patient in Noida.
On the reasons behind high number of young covid cases in state, demographers said: “About 54% of India’s population belongs to the 21- 60 years age group. They are the ones who travelled across different countries and then came back with the infection. Also, they are the ones who moved out of the homes to fetch groceries and essential items during the lock down period. In all, they gave been easy targets for the pandemic virus.”
Specialist in community medicine and public health research, Vishwajit Kumar said: “We are at the early stages of the epidemic and the infection was imported into India by travellers who are more likely to be in this age group. But the biggest reason is that our testing strategy so far has not been based on severity of cases i.e. those needing hospitalisation, but those with a positive travel history. The age distribution of cases is likely to change if our testing strategy shifts to prioritise more severe cases as the pandemic progresses.”
Fewer elderly patients doesn’t mean any less risk for the 60 plus, warn experts in geriatric health. “The fact that most elderly are suffer with at least one kind of a lifestyle disease such as diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular condition makes is an undeniable fact. Families must continue to take care of their elderly ensure sanitisation and infection control measures around them,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, specialist in geriatric health issues.
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