Death risk of older people during Covid-19: a global perspective

Abstract

Globally, longevity was perhaps one of the big achievements in the last few decades, where even developing countries were making remarkable progress (Khan, 2019). Despite all achievements, older people become vulnerable due to biological age, which accelerated their chances of developing morbidity and mortality (Culo, 2011; Reilev et al., 2020). The study aims to examine the links between demographic ageing and public health challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. There has been a higher number of deaths reported in countries that are often considered as ageing societies. The research highlights cross-country differences in the number of deaths due to Covid-19 and mortality risk in older people. Moreover, it focuses on global challenges to protect older people within the existing health systems. The study concludes by drawing some policy issues to protect the elderly during the pandemic