Are there more younger Covid patients in hospital

[Bettydot]

Over the past week or two I’ve noticed in various video clips of medical staff in the mainstream media and quotes from staff and others in the medical field that there has been more of a mention of there being seriously unwell patients in hospital with Covid in their 20s, 30s and 40s. I’m aware that it’s always been the case that some people in these age groups will be badly effected but the impression I’ve got is that medics seem to be seeing more serious cases in younger people in this wave but I’ve not yet seen any specific facts to back this up yet. I’m not scare mongering and I’m aware that the scientists have advised that the new strain is merely more infectious. I’m just wondering if anyone aware of what the current situation is? Is it that more people are infected so the number of serious cases has increased in this age group or are we seeing a real increase in serious cases in this age group? Or is it just ensuring that the public are aware that younger people are not immune from serious illness?

twitter.com/Dr_D_Robertson/status/1347202821935030278
See this thread.

It has heat maps for hospitalisations by age and the rate per week.

Yes the number in younger age groups is increasing.

For ICU the number for the 45-84 group is increasing but its declining for those over that age.

Theres some other useful graphs on the thread too

That said if you are under 45 you are still unlikely to end up in HDU or ICU.

Yes. According to the SAGE member on Question Time last night, average age in ICU is now 60, which is lower than it was.

@Countdowntonothing

Interesting 85+ admissions reducing, is that because of the vaccine? Or too soon for that?

Presumably because of increased precautions in care homes etc. plus their own caution.

@Countdowntonothing

Interesting 85+ admissions reducing, is that because of the vaccine? Or too soon for that?

One hypothesis is that the ICU beds are so full of younger people, those aged 85+ are not getting one. Given the number of hospital admissions and deaths at the moment.This would be the most likely explanation for fewer.people aged 85+ in ICU rather than the vaccine having an effect yet, though I suppose the latter may be a factor

probably something in that @bumblingbovine49

ICU is very brutal and the over 70s are often to frail for them to go to ICU. A doctor was saying a while back. Even if there are beds spare it is not always in the patients best interest.

@inquietant
The average age in ICU is currently lower because they are having to be more realistic about who would survive time in ICU and come through the other side with any quality of life. Unfortunately the systems in the NHS have long developed a system that only cares about quantity of life and not about the quality of life or the cost involved in keeping someone alive (and whether the cost is actually worth it). If the pandemic means these questions are asked more often that would be one good outcome in the long run.

That's not what the SAGE guy was saying, they were discussing the fact younger people are presenting.

Could it be a numbers/demographics thing??? Ie maybe now a higher number of young people are infected (whereas in apr corona was mainly spreading in care homes) - so maybe this explains the higher number in hospital?

I think the demographics and immunity levels in the population are constantly changing eg London was badly hit in 1st wave, then NW then now London again and other areas creeping up. Previously it was older groups - now younger adults.

Funnily enough lots of parents have been infected recently

@StatisticalSense I'd also argue that ITU level treatment for covid is particularly brutal and so while you may admit an 85 year old post laparotomy for a day or two of monitoring, it doesn't mean they'd be suitable for intubation for covid.

Maybe it's because many elderly, frail people already died in the first wave? Also, since care homes have locked down and taken extra precautions, perhaps fewer residents are getting infected?

Many of the younger adults seem to be NHS staff. Despite wearing PPE they probably encounter a huge viral load in hospitals, and the stress of working long hours for many months must be taking its toll on them.

I think as well we've learned as we go along that frail elderly patients should not be intubated for covid as we now have access to more data showing the poor outcomes. We just didn't have that data back in the first wave.

Yes speaking from
My personal experience

Yep, my missus has said in her hospital they have seen an increase of younger people in icu, they lost a 22 and 45 year old the other day(22 year old had no underlying health conditions) consultants are having to choose who gets a bed, and i doubt they are gonna pick someone in there 80s over someone in there 40s

The patients are younger this time around too, and there are so many of them. They are sick. We are full. There can be no debate: this is much, much worse than the first surge.

www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jan/07/so-many-covid-patients-younger-this-time-hospitals-full

It is so sinister the government have stopped a lot of media access - and foolish as the lack of truth coming from hospitals has allowed the covid hoaxers/deniers to grow stronger.

There was a woman in the 'audience' on question time who was a nurse, she just said very matter of factly that people put in general wards were just being found dead. Her comment was really frightening.

@Countdowntonothing

Interesting 85+ admissions reducing, is that because of the vaccine? Or too soon for that?

Too soon.

It may be that the number of 85+ vulnerable to covid is declining... We have had a huge number of deaths in this group. Or more likely given the bed crisis, that this group simply are not getting to ICU because of a shortage of beds and they are given palliative care rather than an ICU bed.

There are less over 85s around these days. And although I dont think the % of younger people getting seriously ill has increased, the total number has. And of course, they get prioritised for treatment.