Notes from the Field: COVID-19–Associated Mortality Risk Among Long-Term Care Facility Residents and Community-Dwelling Adults Aged ≥65 Years — Illinois, December 2020 and January 2022 | MMWR - ISS-G20 Laboratorium Repository

U.S. adults aged ≥65 years are at increased risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19 (1). The communal nature of long-term care facilities (LTCFs), and the vulnerability of the LTCF population (typically aged ≥65 years, and often having underlying chronic conditions, cognitive and physical impairments, immunocomprised status, or other disabilities) further increases risk for COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death in this group (2). Although multiple studies highlight these risks (3), there is limited information comparing the risk among LTCF residents with that in an age-comparable population living in the community. This report estimates the risk for death among LTCF residents by comparing COVID-19–associated mortality rates among LTCF residents aged ≥65 years and persons aged ≥65 years who are not LTCF residents (community-dwelling adults) in Illinois. Illinois infectious disease registry data and population data from state regulatory sources and the U.S. Census Bureau were used to calculate COVID-19 death rates among persons aged ≥65 years living within and outside of LTCFs during a prevaccination baseline month (December 2020) and a comparison month 1 year after COVID-19 vaccination began (January 2022).

Entire content available on: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7124a4.htm?s_cid=mm7124a4_x