Who is at higher risk of more severe disease from COVID-19?
Who is at higher risk of more severe disease from COVID-19?
As you will read and hear over and over again those with the most severe health problems are at higher risk, as are the elderly, in terms of suffering more severe disease and higher mortality.
A list of the risk factors includes:
- People aged 65 and older.
- People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
- People who smoke
- People who are obese especially those with BMI of 40 or higher
- People with chronic lung disease
- People with moderate to severe asthma
- People who have serious heart conditions such as heart failure
- People who are immunocompromised whether it is due to:
- Cancer treatment,
- Organ or bone marrow transplantation,
- HIV or AIDS if poorly controlled
- Immunodeficiencies of various causes
- Prolonged history of corticosteroid use
- People with diabetes
- People with chronic kidney disease and those undergoing dialysis
- People with liver disease
As more clinicial information becomes available we will have more detailed information as to how each of these factors contributes to disease severity and outcomes