Prevalence of COVID-19 in adolescents and youth compared with older adults in states experiencing surges.

Autor: Rumain B; Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, United States of America.; Department of Psychology, Touro College & University System, New York, New York, United States of America., Schneiderman M; SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America., Geliebter A; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: PloS one [PLoS One] 2021 Mar 10; Vol. 16 (3), pp. e0242587. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Mar 10 (Print Publication: 2021).
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242587
Abstrakt: Purpose: There has been considerable controversy regarding susceptibility of adolescents (10-19 years) and youth (15-24 years) to COVID-19. However, a number of studies have reported that adolescents are significantly less susceptible than older adults. Summer 2020 provided an opportunity to examine data on prevalence since after months of lockdowns, with the easing of restrictions, people were mingling, leading to surges in cases.
Methods: We examined data from Departments of Health websites in six U.S. states experiencing surges in cases to determine prevalence of COVID-19, and two prevalence-related measures, in adolescents and youth as compared to older adults. The two other measures related to prevalence were: (Percentage of cases observed in a given age group) ÷ (percentage of cases expected based on population demographics); and percentage deviation, or [(% observed-% expected)/ % expected] x 100.
Results: Prevalence of COVID-19 for adolescents and for youth was significantly greater than for older adults (p < .00001), as was percentage observed ÷ percentage expected (p < .005). The percentage deviation was significantly greater in adolescents/youth than in older adults (p < 0.00001) when there was an excess of observed cases over what was expected, and significantly less when observed cases were fewer than expected (p< 0.00001).
Conclusions: Our results are contrary to previous findings that adolescents are less susceptible than older adults. Possible reasons for the findings are suggested, and we note that public health messaging targeting adolescents and youth might be helpful in curbing the pandemic. Also, the findings of the potential for high transmission among adolescents and youth, should be factored into decisions regarding school reopening.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared no competing interests exist.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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