Epidemiology and Unique Aspects of Aging and Infectious Diseases
Abstract
The elderly population will grow rapidly over the next 25 years. The majority of patients with serious or life-threatening infections will be old. It is imperative that primary care physicians and infectious diseases specialists become aware of and knowledgeable about the special and unique aspects of infections in the geriatric population.
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The immune system changes with age in nearly every aspect, generally leading to weaker pathogen immunity.
“The immune system changes with age in nearly every aspect, generally resulting in a decline in pathogen immunity with increased age.”
From SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and the aging immune system (2021) · cites this paper as [1]
Ageing is associated with high morbidity and mortality from various infections and with substantially lower vaccine efficacy.
“ageing is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates for various infections and significant reductions in vaccine efficacy1-6”
From SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 and the aging immune system (2021) · cites this paper as [1]
The risk of many infections such as urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections is greatly increased in older people.
“Although certain infections are less likely in older people (for example, the incidence of common cold has been shown to be the lowest those aged over 60 years [45]), the risk of many others such as urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, for example, is greatly increased [65].”
From Immune function and micronutrient requirements change over the life course (2018) · cites this paper as [65]
Mortality rates of these infections are three times higher among elderly patients compared with younger adult patients.
“Moreover, the mortality rates of these infections are three times higher among elderly patients compared with younger adult patients [83].”
From Evolution of the immune system in humans from infancy to old age (2015) · cites this paper as [83]
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- Authors
- Yoshikawa, T. T.
- Affiliations
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (US)
- Corresponding author
- Yoshikawa, T. T.
- Venue
- Clinical Infectious Diseases
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2000-06-01
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 931-933
- ISSN
- 1058-4838 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-6591
- OpenAlex
- W1992455678
- Cited by
- 392
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 5.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Infectious Diseases (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Frailty in Older Adults
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Sepsis Diagnosis and Treatment
- Keywords
- geriatric infections, aging, older adults, primary care
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Communicable Diseases, Female, Humans, Male
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