People living in residential aged care, particularly those with dementia, are at higher risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19. This report uses data from the COVID-19 Register to examine changes in GP and specialist attendance and medicine dispensing to aged care residents during the first 3 years of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 to 2022). The report then focuses on hospitalisation and mortality outcomes, and the role of COVID-19 vaccination and antiviral use.
- Cat. no: DEM 13
Key findings
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Aged care residents with dementia were more likely to have a COVID-19 diagnosis than those with no dementia record
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The rate of deaths due to COVID-19 was higher among aged care residents with dementia than those with no dementia record
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Vaccinated aged care residents with and without dementia had lower rates of COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths
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1 in 2 aged care residents with COVID-19 were dispensed antivirals: 49% of those with dementia, 52% without dementia