Covid-19 patients above 65 years of age more prone to reinfection: Study

 

While most people who have had COVID-19 are protected from catching it again for at least six months, elderly patients above 65 years of age are more prone to reinfection, says a new study published in The Lancet journal.

The scientists from Denmark's Statens Serum Institut analysed data collected as part of the country's national COVID-19 testing strategy, through which more than two-thirds of the population (four million people) were tested in 2020.

According to the scientists, while prior infection gave those under the age of 65 years around 80 per cent protection against reinfection, for those 65 and older it conferred only 47 per cent protection, indicating they are more likely to catch COVID-19 again.

In the study, the researchers calculated the ratios of positive and negative test results taking account of differences in age, sex, and time since infection, using which they produced estimates of protection against reinfection.

Among people who had COVID-19 during the first wave between March and May 2020, they said only 0.65 per cent tested positive again during the second wave from September to December 2020. Read More