Patients aged 60 to 79 years are the majority among those hospitalized with Covid in ICUs in SP

Three out of four private hospitals in the state of São Paulo report that there are mainly people between 60 and 79 years old among patients hospitalized with Covid-19 in ICUs, according to a survey carried out by SindHosp (Union of Hospitals, Clinics and Laboratories of the State).

The survey heard 72 hospitals between March 7 and 14.

Among hospitals, 76% said that during this period there was a higher frequency of people aged 60 to 79 years hospitalized for Covid-19. Patients over 80 years of age were in second place (12%) and those between 51 and 59 years of age were third (7.5%).

The picture is similar to that seen in February, between the 1st and 9th.

According to Francisco Balestrin, president of SindHosp, there are three factors that help to understand why older people still appear more frequently among hospitalized patients.

First, they are the ones with the most comorbidities. “The older person is the one who has developed a series of pathologies throughout life, such as cardiovascular and neurological problems, so it is natural that, when affected by the virus, they end up in a worse situation and consequently are hospitalized”, he said.

Another factor, according to the president, is related to vaccination. “We noticed that there is, yes, a higher incidence of unvaccinated people in the ICU or who are on one dose or only with two doses, did not take the third”.

The third is the diminishing effect of the vaccine on the immune system over time. The elderly were the first to be immunized last year, so it is natural that the drug is losing its effectiveness. For this reason, Balestrin says that the application of the fourth dose is necessary, especially in this age group.

This Wednesday (16), Governor João Doria (PSDB) said that people aged 80 and over can take the fourth dose from next Monday (21).

You can only receive the booster who took the third dose at least four months ago.

In this new stage, the target audience will receive any of the four immunizing agents approved by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency): AstraZeneca, Coronavac, Janssen or Pfizer.

According to Regiane de Paula, coordinator of the State Immunization Program, there is still no defined calendar for the other age groups in São Paulo.

In the capital, the immunization of people over 80 will begin this Friday (18), according to the Municipal Health Department.

Also according to the survey, there was a drop in the number of patients admitted to Covid ICUs. Of the hospitals, 67% said that, in March, the occupancy of these beds was up to 20%. In the previous month, 18% of establishments claimed to be in this situation.