COVID-19 prevalence and mortality in longer-term care facilities

Andrew T Levin; Juulia Jylhävä; Dorota Religa; Laura Shallcross

doi:10.1007/s10654-022-00861-w

COVID-19 prevalence and mortality in longer-term care facilities

Eur J Epidemiol. 2022 Mar;37(3):227-234. doi: 10.1007/s10654-022-00861-w. Epub 2022 Apr 10.

Authors

Andrew T Levin^{1

2

3}, Juulia Jylhävä^{4

5}, Dorota Religa⁶, Laura Shallcross⁷

Affiliations

¹ Dartmouth College, Hanover, USA. andrew.t.levin@dartmouth.edu.
² National Bureau for Economic Research, Cambridge, USA. andrew.t.levin@dartmouth.edu.
³ Center for Economic Policy Research, London, United Kingdom. andrew.t.levin@dartmouth.edu.
⁴ Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁵ Faculty of Social Sciences, Unit of Health Sciences and Gerontology Research Center, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
⁶ Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁷ University College, London, United Kingdom.

Abstract

This essay considers the factors that have contributed to very high COVID-19 mortality in longer-term care facilities (LTCFs). We compare the demographic characteristics of LTCF residents with those of community-dwelling older adults, and then we review the evidence regarding prevalence and infection fatality rates (IFRs), including links to frailty and some comorbidities. Finally, we discuss policy measures that could foster the physical and mental health and well-being of LTCF residents in the present context and in potential future pandemics.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; care facilities; infection fatality rate; nursing homes; seroprevalence.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Aged
COVID-19*
Humans
Long-Term Care
Pandemics
Prevalence
SARS-CoV-2