Top 5 Takeaways

1. Significant Decrease in Mortality Rates Among LTCF Residents: The study found a 69% reduction in COVID-19 mortality rates among long-term care facility (LTCF) residents aged ≥65 years from December 2020 to January 2022.
2. Comparison with Community-Dwelling Adults: Despite the overall decrease among LTCF residents, COVID-19 mortality rates slightly increased by nearly 8% among community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years during the same period.
3. High Vaccination Coverage: By January 2022, a high percentage of both LTCF residents (91%) and community-dwelling adults (85%) were fully vaccinated, with many also having received a booster dose.
4. Effectiveness of COVID-19 Control Measures: The study highlights the combined effect of vaccination, infection control, and testing regimens in reducing mortality risk from COVID-19 among LTCF residents.
5. Limitations and Uncontrolled Variables: The findings are subject to limitations, including the inability to fully attribute mortality rate changes to specific interventions and unassessed impacts of variables such as virus strain differences.

Original Article Author and Citation

Corresponding Author

Daniel Lee, daniel.lee@illinois.gov.

Suggested Citation

Lee D, Counard C, Tang A, Brister S, Ezike N. 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 Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:803–805. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7124a4.

Summary

This MMWR article reports on a study conducted to compare the risk of COVID-19–associated mortality among long-term care facility (LTCF) residents aged ≥65 years with that among community-dwelling adults of the same age group in Illinois. The study used data from December 2020 and January 2022 to evaluate the impact of vaccination and other COVID-19 control measures on mortality rates.

Methods

The study utilized data from the Illinois infectious disease registry, U.S. Census Bureau, and state regulatory sources to calculate COVID-19 mortality rates among LTCF residents and community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years. It compared these rates during a pre-vaccination baseline month (December 2020) and a post-vaccination month (January 2022).

Discussion

The analysis revealed a significant decrease in COVID-19 mortality rates among LTCF residents alongside a slight increase in mortality rates among community-dwelling adults over the study period. The results highlight the effectiveness of comprehensive COVID-19 control strategies, including vaccination, in reducing mortality risks among vulnerable populations.

Conclusion

COVID-19 prevention and control strategies, especially vaccination, have been instrumental in reducing the mortality risk associated with COVID-19 among LTCF residents in Illinois. Despite limitations, the findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions in protecting at-risk populations.

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