COVID-19-Associated Hospitalizations Among US Adults Aged ≥65 Years - COVID-NET, 13 States, January-August 2023

Adults aged >= 65 years remain at elevated risk for severe COVID-19 disease and have higher COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates compared with those in younger age groups. Data from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) were analyzed to estimate COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates during January- August 2023 and identify demographic and clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients aged >= 65 years during January-June 2023. Among adults aged >= 65 years, hospitalization rates more than doubled, from 6.8 per 100,000 during the week ending July 15 to 16.4 per 100,000 during the week ending August 26, 2023. Across all age groups, adults aged >= 65 years accounted for 62.9% (95% CI = 60.1%-65.7%) of COVID-19-associated hospitaliza-tions, 61.3% (95% CI = 54.7%-67.6%) of intensive care unit admissions, and 87.9% (95% CI = 80.5%-93.2%) of in-hospital deaths associated with COVID-19 hospitalizations. Most hospi-talized adults aged >= 65 years (90.3%; 95% CI = 87.2%-92.8%) had multiple underlying conditions, and fewer than one quarter (23.5%; 95% CI = 19.5%-27.7%) had received the recom-mended COVID-19 bivalent vaccine. Because adults aged >= 65 years remain at increased risk for COVID-19-associated hospitalization and severe outcomes, guidance for this age group should continue to focus on measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, encourage vaccination, and promote early treatment for persons who receive a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result to reduce their risk for severe COVID-19-associated outcomes.

Automated summary

Adults aged >= 65 years have a significantly higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease and associated hospitalizations compared to younger age groups. Data analysis shows that hospitalization rates for this age group more than doubled from January to August 2023. The majority of hospitalized adults in this age group had underlying health conditions and a low percentage had received the recommended COVID-19 vaccine.