While elderly and people with chronic diseases are the biggest victims of the new coronavirus, the deaths of younger adults or among people with no record of risk factors are still increasing in Brazil.
Although it represents a smaller proportion, the number of deaths due to the disease among men and women under 60 years old has grown about 64 times in less than a month.
In the same period, deaths among those over 60 years old increased approximately 18-fold. Folha analyzed data from the Ministry of Health.
At the end of March, when the Health Ministry began to release details of the deaths, 89% were elderly. In less than a month, the percentage dropped to 72%.
The March balance also showed that 85% of the people who had Covid-19 deaths analyzed had a record of at least one previous disease or other known risk condition.
On the last Monday (20), that number reached 70%. Experts point out different factors for this change in the profile of deaths.
One is the fact that the Brazilian population is mostly younger compared to European countries.
Another is obesity. Currently, 56% of Brazilians are overweight, and 18% are obese, a group that is more vulnerable to Covid-19.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon