Sept. 28 (UPI) — More than half of all clinical trials evaluating vaccines and potential treatments for COVID-19 are “at high risk for excluding older adults,” according to an analysis published Monday by JAMA Internal Medicine.

In addition, roughly one in four of the 847 trials reviewed by the researchers included an age “cutoff” that would exclude adults age 65 to 80, the data showed.

Older adults are generally considered to be at higher risk for severe COVID-19 and health complications related to the disease, research suggests.

“Based on our study, older adults, particularly those in their 70s and 80s, may be systematically excluded from the clinical trials necessary to develop and test [COVID-19 vaccines and treatments],” study co-author Dr. Sharon Inouye told UPI.

“My biggest concern is that without clinical trial testing, older adults will ultimately be denied treatments and vaccines — as a result, equitable distribution to this