This figure (via @ScottGottliebMD) receiving a lot of attention

And folks rightly point out mortality rates lower for young than for elderly

But thats true for every disease

So as point of reference:

How do these rates compare to mortality for folks with heart attack?

Thread

First, obviously being infected with COVID19 is not as serious as having a heart attack

But what about if you end up hospitalized with COVID19?

Is that serious?

How do mortality rates, age gradient compare to folks with an acute MI

Let& #39;s use data from HCUP 2016

2/6

Age GroupCOVID19 (FL) Acute MI (national)
25-44 2.3% to 4.8% 1.6%
45-64 6.8% to 12.5% 2.7%
65-84 26% to 38% 5.3%
85+ 61% 10.3%

So what does this tell us?

3/6

For each age group, among hospitalized patients,

COVID is 2 to 6 times deadlier than an acute MI.

Saying there is an age gradient for mortality among hospitalized COVID19 is not interesting.

That& #39;s true for all hospitalized patients.

Very true for Acute MI

4/6

But here& #39;s the fact:

Average 40 year-old admitted with COVID19 has about the same mortality rate as the average 70 year-old with an acute MI

Once you get sick enough to be hospitalized, COVID19 is a serious disease

That& #39;s one more reason to track hospitalization numbers

5/6

So we have to move away from the trope that COVID19 only a disease of older people.

Even if it was, it should be a priority.

But its not.

And when young people get sick from this disease, they can get very sick

And that& #39;s another reason to take preventing it seriously

Fin