Elderly patients
Among the people hospitalized, 72% were people aged 60 or over, although they represent only 27% of the French population. Men are also more prone to severe forms. 52% of hospitalized patients over 60 were male, while they represent 45% of the population aged 60 and over. “Advanced age and male sex are well-known risk factors for severe forms, which largely reflects the distribution of comorbidities making people vulnerable to Covid-19 in the population (obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, chronic lung pathologies), “says the study.
Residents of social housing
Hospitalized people live less often in single-family homes and more often live in social housing (21% of hospitalized people while they represent 15% of the population as a whole). They also live in housing that is more densely occupied than the average: 33% of hospitalized individuals aged 50 to 74 live in housing with an area per person of less than 30 square meters. “Housing conditions, however, do not affect the risk of complications in hospital, which suggests that they essentially capture an increased risk of exposure to the virus in confined spaces where contact is more frequent and barrier gestures more difficult to set up”, specifies the DREES.
Below average standard of living
French people who develop severe forms of Covid-19 have on average a standard of living 6% lower than the average level of the entire population. 57% of hospitalized individuals have a standard of living below the median. The Drees thus notes an over-representation of the most modest populations which is found in each age group. “This income effect may reflect living and working conditions associated with an increased risk of exposure to the virus, as well as a more frequent presence of comorbidities among the most disadvantaged,” adds the study.
Foreign born
Fourth factor, people hospitalized for Covid-19 are more frequently born abroad. This is the case for 26% of those aged over 35. However, they represent only 17% of the entire population over 35 years of age. The study underlines that this over-representation only concerns individuals born outside Europe, in particular those born in Africa. “This effect of country of birth, already highlighted by numerous international studies that have identified ethnic origin as a risk factor, might reflect an unequal distribution of exposure factors (profession, respect for barrier gestures) or vulnerability ( presence of comorbidities). “This effect of country of birth, already highlighted by numerous international studies that have identified ethnic origin as a risk factor, might reflect an unequal distribution of exposure factors (profession, respect for barrier gestures) or vulnerability ( presence of comorbidities),” the researchers explain.
