Largest Chinese COVID-19 study shows elderly, sick most at risk
Largest Chinese COVID-19 study shows elderly, sick most at risk

CHINA — Chinese authorities have published a study of COVID-19 patients across China – the largest one done on the disease so far.

According to data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 80.9 percent of COVID-19 cases have been mild, with patients exhibiting only mild pneumonia or none at all.

Thirteen point eight percent of infections were classified as severe, and 4.7 percent as critical, with the sick and elderly found to be most at risk.

The study also pointed out the high risk the outbreak presented to medical workers, 1,716 of whom have been diagnosed with the disease.

While men are more likely than women to get infected, children and teens aged 0 to 19 are not as affected, making up just 2 percent of those who contracted COVID-19.

Of the 44,672 confirmed cases used in the study, 1,023 had died as of February 11, which puts the crude death rate for the virus at 2.3 percent.

Hubei province was found to have a much higher rate at 2.9 percent, compared to 0.4 percent for the rest of China.

Patients with cardiovascular disease were found most likely to die of complications from the virus, followed by those suffering from diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and hypertension.

The report finds that the epidemic peaked in January, and that a 'downward trend' in the overall epidemic curve since February 11 suggests China's aggressive containment measures have paid off.

It's important to remember though, that the CDC is a Chinese government entity, and that with people returning home from their long holidays, there may be a possible rebound of the epidemic.