Biological and Comorbidity as Risk Factors for COVID 19 High Morbidity and Mortality among the Aged Population and Its Implications for Public Health Education and Research in Ghana

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been found to be the cause of this current pandemic of corona virus infection (COVID 19), (World Health Organization (WHO) 2020). It is of interest to note that Wuhan, which is located in the Hubei province of China, was the first community within which this outbreak was first identified in December 2019. There is high morbidity and mortality among the elderly patients with COVID-19 than the young and middle-aged patients. Again, most of the morbidity and mortality have comorbid conditions (presence of more than one disease in one person) from 1 to 3 in addition to COVID 19 and most of these conditions are age related.

Objective: The aim of this work is to describe changes in biological processes in aged population in relation to the presence of a possible comorbidity vis-à-vis COVID 19. To review publications and other studies associated with biological changes in the ageing process as well as identifying some specific comorbidity among the aged. To develop an appropriate health educational programs to protect the aged population on COVID 19. To develop an educational strategy on COVID 19 for the aged and the general public.

Methodology: The LILACS-BIREME, SCIELO, PUBMED, ACADEMIA, SCIENCE DOMAIN databases and some textbooks were consulted for the study. Scientific papers published English between January and March, 2020 on the subject of COVID 19 among the aged were selected for inclusion. A total 65 of studies published between January 1st, 2020 to March 30th, 2020 and some textbooks on Anatomy and Physiology were identified and evaluated. Twenty-seven (27) articles meeting the inclusion criterion (COVID 19 among the aged) were selected for this review. Finally, an analysis was conducted and the papers were assessed in agreement with the study objectives.

Results and Discussion: The studies reviewed discovered a high prevalence and mortality of COVID 19 among the aged with comorbidity due to deterioration in ageing process in Respiratory and the Immune systems.

Conclusion: It is recommended that some further research be done locally on COVID 19 to increase the knowledge on this subject in Ghana. It is also recommended that an appropriate health educational strategy be developed to create awareness among the aged.