Health status and gerontological evaluation in Mexican older adults in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Older adults constitute the most vulnerable population group to the COVID-19 pandemic In Mexico, their biopsychosocial conditions might intensify their vulnerability Method: Affiliation to health systems, health conditions and gerontological evaluation of 3,218 older adults were analyzed following the methodology of the PAHO-Mexico Health, Well-being and Aging Survey Results: 88 6 % of older adults referred being affiliated to health systems;30 2 %, 52 4 %, 10 3 %, 4 1 % and 5 6 % referred suffering from diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease and cerebrovascular disease, respectively;15 6 % reported urinary incontinence, and 11 3%, fecal incontinence;12 1 % of the women referred having suffered from breast cancer at some point, and 6 3 %, cervical cancer The habit of smoking tobacco was observed in 11 1 %, risk of malnutrition in 32 8 %, established malnutrition in 4 1 %, and functional dependence for basic and instrumental activities of daily life in 16 3 % and 17 6 %, respectively Conclusion: Comprehensive geronto­logical evaluation is essential for efficient care of older adults who suffer from COVID-19, and for adequate care of the effects or health conditions at the conclusion of the confinement imposed by the pandemic © 2020 Academia Nacional de Medicina de Mexico