Re:Studies Point to Big Drop in Covid-19 Death Rates
by legerdemain on Wednesday October 21, 2020 @03:17AM
(#24845487)
The article says the analysis controlled for age. Survival has improved in every age range.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:Studies Point to Big Drop in Covid-19 Death Rates
by dragonwriter on Wednesday October 21, 2020 @05:52AM
(#24846226)
> The article says the analysis controlled for age
Even if age was the only risk factor (in which case controlling for age would negate the first and third points), the second point would cover that. But age isn't the only risk factor, so all three points are still relevant.
Re:Studies Point to Big Drop in Covid-19 Death Rates
by legerdemain on Wednesday October 21, 2020 @03:37PM
(#24851251)
I don't think your second point is up for argument. We're not trying to disambiguate whether doctors are getting better at treating COVID or COVID is itself getting easier for doctors to treat.
Age is a strong predictor of COVID fatality, either directly or through correlates. In every US county whose stats I've spot-checked, deaths go up with age. It's also one of the best predictors, given that advanced age is much more common in populations than stronger, but more selective factors.
Thus, controlling for age and nevertheless observing a reduction in mortality should be taken as an indicator that COVID is becoming comparatively more medically tractable.