CHICAGO, IL–Infectious Disease Advisor (1/27, Khaja) reports a study found that “millions of COVID-19-associated illnesses and outpatient visits as well as thousands of hospitalizations and deaths continued to occur annually in the United States from late 2022 through 2024, despite the formal end of the public health emergency.”
During the 2022 to 2023 surveillance period, the researchers “estimated 43,573,000 symptomatic COVID-19 illnesses, 9,995,000 outpatient visits, 1,130,000 hospitalizations, and 101,300 deaths nationwide.
Although declines were observed in the subsequent year, the burden remained substantial, with an estimated 33,009,000 illnesses, 7,738,000 outpatient visits, 879,100 hospitalizations, and 100,800 deaths during the 2023 to 2024 period.”
Although adults aged 65 years and older comprised just 17.7% of the U.S. population, researchers noted they “accounted for nearly half of COVID-19-associated illnesses, approximately two-thirds of hospitalizations, and more than 80% of deaths during the 2023 to 2024 surveillance period.”
The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Media Release/AMA Morning Rounds
