The report broke down Italy’s outbreak data according to age, gender, location and the severity of symptoms. In a section dedicated to mortality statistics, the biomedical research institute provided a breakdown of total deaths reported throughout the pandemic, noting that only 1.1 percent of fatalities caused by the virus—350 people—occurred in individuals younger than 49. The remaining 31,196 deaths that had been confirmed when the health institute conducted its analysis were reported in Italians older than 50.
In general, the report showed a positive correlation between age and an increased number of deaths, with more fatalities confirmed among people in their 60s than those in their 50s. Mortality statistics associated with those in their 70s and 80s followed that trend.
The highest concentration of deaths, 41 percent, occurred in individuals between 80 and 89 years, according to the report. People in their 70 accounted for slightly more than 27 percent of overall fatalities, while those older than 90 accounted for roughly 17 percent.
The health institute’s evaluation of Italy’s total coronavirus diagnoses according to age was consistent with the findings in its mortality assessment. The report noted that close to 70 percent of positive cases were confirmed in people older than 51, with a slight majority confirmed in people older than 70. The median age of patients at time of diagnosis was 62.
The report’s results align with statements from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has warned that older individuals are more susceptible to the virus and at higher risk of developing severe infections after contracting it.
Newsweek reached out to the Italian National Institute of Health for additional comments regarding its report but did not receive a reply before publication.
As of Tuesday morning, at least 230,158 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Italy since its first diagnoses were reported in March. Of those diagnosed, at least 32,877 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University’s global virus tracker. An additional case report, updated by Italy’s Ministry of Health on Monday evening, said that 141,981 people who contracted COVID-19, the virus’s respiratory disease, have recovered, meaning 55,300 cases of virus infection remain active.
Italy’s death toll was the world’s highest during the earlier half of the pandemic, though its numbers have since been surpassed by the United States, as well as the United Kingdom. Over the past several weeks, the country has seen a notable decline in additional cases and deaths reported daily, with its single-day fatality count dipping below 100 for the first time in months on May 18.
About 800 new deaths have been confirmed since then in Italy, though the incidence of virus-related fatalities has slowed considerably in May, compared with previous months. Before the country entered Phase 2 of its economic reopening plan on Monday, following more than two months of a nationwide lockdown, Italy’s Civil Protection Agency issued a request for volunteers to form a 60,000-person task force responsible for enforcing ongoing social distancing guidelines.
