Table 2

Estimates of the shielding ratio for elderly people versus younger people in different locations for the first wave of COVID-19

Location (reference)Prevalence (%)S (95% CI)Adjusted prevalence (%)S (95% CI)fh (%)
ElderlyYoungerElderlyYounger
Europe
Denmark (17)1.83.00.6 (0.4 to 1.1)1.42.50.6 (0.3 to 1.1)14
Hungary (18)0.80.61.3 (0.7 to 2.1)NDNDND12
Iceland (19)0.51.00.5 (0.4 to 0.6)NDNDND10
Spain (20)NDNDND6.04.71.3 (1.2 to 1.4)15
UK (21)2.75.60.5 (0.4 to 0.6)3.36.70.5 (0.4 to 0.6)14
UK (22)6.18.80.7 (0.6 to 0.8)NDNDND14
Americans
Brazil (23)2.42.80.9 (0.7 to 1.1)2.42.80.8 (0.6 to 1.2)6
Canada (24)0.70.71.0 (0.7 to 1.3)NDNDND12
Dominican Republic (25)6.05.31.1 (*)NDNDND5
USA (26)7.68.40.9 (0.8 to 1.0)8.19.70.8 (0.8 to 0.9)11
USA (27)2.03.10.6 (0.5 to 0.8)NDNDND11
USA (28)0.81.80.4 (0.4 to 0.5)NDNDND11
USA—New York (29)10.913.50.9 (0.8 to 1.0)12.115.40.8 (0.7 to 0.9)10
USA—Brooklyn (30)~40~500.8 (*)NDNDND9
Asia
China—Wuchang (31)3.52.21.6 (1.4 to 1.8)NDNDND7
China (32)2.01.31.5 (1.2 to 1.9)NDNDND7
India (33)0.60.61.0 (0.7 to 1.5)NDNDND4

  • The exact number of participants≥70 years tested is not provided for the studies in Iceland, Canada and Dominical Republic, but based on the number of participants in the highest provided age stratum and the age-structure of the population in these countries, it is likely that those≥70 would exceed the minimum required sample of n=1000. For Iceland, the data include the cases detected with positive test (the majority) plus those estimated to be infected based on antibody testing.

  • *Information available does not allow reliable calculation of 95% CIs.

  • fh, percent share of those ≥70 years old in the population of the location; ND, no data; PRC, polymerase chain reaction; ; S, shielding ratio.