Age transition of cases, admissions, and deaths by COVID-19 in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Objective: To describe the evolution of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19 in the city of Rio de Janeiro by age group between March 2020 and April 2021. Methods: The relative frequencies of COVID-19 cases and deaths were calculated for ten-year age groups in the epidemiological week (EW) 13 from 2020 to 21 of 2021 and expected value ranges by age group and EW. Results: The higher burden of cases was concentrated in the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups. Hospitalizations and deaths were concentrated in the age groups 60-69 years, 70-79 years and 80 years or more, with a marked tendency to rejuvenate the burden of deaths from EW 10 of 2021. Conclusions: There is an age transition in the pandemic in Rio de Janeiro, possibly due to the progress of vaccination. This is, therefore, a successful measure. We insist on the need to accelerate the population immunization process for the control and prevention of COVID-19.