Centenarians in Colombia: a population-based cohort study on the impact of COVID 19

Introduction: This study examines the impact of COVID 19 on the centenarian population in Colombia, highlighting their vulnerability through a detailed demographic analysis. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study (March 2020 - December 2022) analysed 1,005 affected centenarians. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Kaplan Meier survival curves were used. Results: Of these, 65.47% were females; the mortality rate was 37.1%, which was higher in males (45.24%). The average time from symptom onset to recovery was 26.56 days, and the average time to mortality was 14.33 days. The Kaplan Meier curve showed greater survival in females (p=0.0001); the age specific curve showed no significant differences (p=0.084). Centenarians were concentrated in municipalities in special categories 1 and 6. Discussion: This study revealed increased mortality among male centenarians, emphasizing the need for extended follow-up due to the prolonged recovery time.