COVID-19 in the elderly: A Malaysian perspective

The challenges in health care delivery and accessibility for this at-risk population may be multifactorial; sociocultural (including spiritual well-being) and environmental factors (eg, long-term care facilities) are likely important contributing influences and may be uniquely different in Malaysia as compared to other countries. [...]the increasingly important role of telemedicine use among the elderly is another issue that warrants attention. In response, the Malaysian Society of Geriatric Medicine has published interim recommendations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic that provide guidelines to reduce risk of outbreaks eg, by suspending group activities, restricting visitors, practicing frequent hand hygiene, implementing temperature checks on staff, and designating isolation areas for suspected COVID-19 cases. With an advancing age there is also the risk of having one or more co-morbidities; prior to the COVID-19 pandemic the presence of multiple chronic diseases were already recognised as being associated with an increased risk as well as prevalence of malnutrition that could lead to more severe consequences [9]. [...]there is a need to ensure that this group of patients receive adequate nutritional support whilst being confined to their residences.