The novel coronavirus spares no one, but severity of the disease it causes varies from person to person. While most infected people develop mild to moderate illness requiring no hospitalization, certain groups of the population are susceptible to severe Covid-19 complications and death due to the disease. For example, various health authorities have documented that older people and those with one or more underlying health conditions are at higher risk of getting those serious complications from COVID-19, if they get the virus. Below are five risk factors for developing severe Covid-19, as suggested by studies.
Being overweight
A new study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal revealed that being overweight may increase your risk of worse outcomes from COVID-19, including higher ICU admissions. According to the authors from the University of Oxford in the UK, the risk of worse outcomes from COVID-19 start rising in people with a BMI above 23 kilogrammes per square metre (kg/m2), which is considered to be in the healthy range. For each one unit increase in BMI, the risk of hospitalisation increases by 5 per cent higher and the risk of ICU admission by 10 per cent, they said.
Being underweight
People who are underweight (BMI less than 18.5) are also at a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19, the same Lancet study noted. Previous studies have also linked being underweight to higher rates of hospitalization and death. In a study published last month, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described having a very high or very low BMI as a strong risk factor for more severe cases of COVID-19.
Having diabetes
Several studies have indicated that people with diabetes are more likely to have more severe symptoms and complications from COVID-19, when infected with the virus. Having heart disease or other conditions along diabetes could further worsen the severity of Covid-19. So, keep your diabetes well-managed to reduce your risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is also believed to be a risk factor for severe COVID-19. Preliminary findings from a National Institutes of Health study also suggested pregnant women who experienced severe symptoms of COVID-19 may be at higher risk for cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm birth.
Cancer treatment
According to a study published in the journal EBioMedicine, children and young adults undergoing cancer treatment are likely to experience a prolonged Covid-19 infection, testing positive for months, due to their compromised immune systems. A previous study published in the International Journal of Clinical Oncology also found more severe Covid-19 infection and significantly higher mortality in cancer patients compared to non-cancer patients.
04-30-2021, 04:31 PM
Who are at risk of developing severe Covid 19
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