Half of coronavirus patients in the Netherlands who require intensive care are under the age of 50, according to a study of hospital admissions reported in NRC.

Although nearly all the 24 patients who have died so far were over the age of 70, the disease can cause severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in much younger patients. Half of all patients who are admitted to intensive care for ARDS die.

A study of 72,000 Covid-19 patients in China found that 81% suffered only mild symptoms, while six per cent needed intensive care or support with breathing. More than 80 per cent of the latter group were aged over 50.

The high proportion of critically ill young people in the Netherlands may reflect the relatively younger population or the low overall number of Covid-19 patients who need intensive care, which is currently around 50, the study said. The findings were presented at a seminar of intensive care specialists and other doctors on Saturday.