The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Elderly: A Systematic Review

Objectives: The present study aimed to review the effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the elderly. In this study, we reviewed topics, such as the causes of COVID-19severity in the elderly; the psychological problems of the elderly; the relationship between comorbidities and COVID-19 severity, and the comparison of COVID-19 with other pandemics. Methods & Materials: This systematic review study was conducted in 2020 by searching in international Internet search databases. Boolean Operator (AND, OR) was used for a combined search without a time limit. The search strategy was limited to Persian and English articles using the following keywords: “older adults, COVID-19, psychological problems, social isolation, elderly abuse, ageism”. Finally, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study, the remaining 58 studies were included in the study.  Results: The results of the studies were extracted and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the elderly were examined in 8 parts, as follows: Why COVID-19 is more common in the elderly and has more complications; what are the mortality and complications of COVID-19 in the elderly; COVID-19 and underlying diseases; psychological problems caused by COVID-19 in the elderly; COVID-19 and abuse in the elderly; COVID-19and ageism in the elderly; the comparison of COVID-19 with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and influenza epidemics in the elderly, and care for the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic poses serious challenges for the elderly globally. To address these challenges, everyone must work, from government officials to individuals and families. Governments should enact laws that minimize the potential age-related abuse and discrimination and provide equal opportunities for all society members, regardless of age or gender. Families should also be aware of the increasing social isolation of the elderly and keep in touch with them..

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:16

Enthalten in:

Sālmand - 16(2021), 1, Seite 2-29

Sprache:

Persisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Milad Moradi [VerfasserIn]
Elham Navab [VerfasserIn]
Farshad Sharifi [VerfasserIn]
Bahareh Namadi [VerfasserIn]
Mahziyar Rahimidoost [VerfasserIn]

Links:

doaj.org [kostenfrei]
salmandj.uswr.ac.ir [kostenfrei]
Journal toc [kostenfrei]
Journal toc [kostenfrei]

Themen:

Ageism
Covid-19
Elder abuse
Elderly
Geriatrics
Psychological problems
Public aspects of medicine
Social isolation

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

DOAJ001520776