Am I at High Risk for Getting Coronavirus COVID-19?

The Centers for Disease Control or CDC states:

Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes:

• Older adults
• People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
  • Heart disease
  • Diabetes
  • Lung disease

Heart disease can include a history of a heart attack (myocardial infarction), congestive heart failure, or vascular disease. Diabetes can include types I and II, and is significant even if you have controlled diabetes on oral medication and diet. When people get ill, blood sugars often get worse, impacting their ability to fight their acute disease. Lung disease can include COPD, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, or smoking. This is not a comprehensive list, and any number of medical conditions that a person has can impact their ability to fight pneumonia from acquiring COVID-19. Conditions not mentioned that are of particular concern are those who have a compromised immune system, like HIV, cancer, or being on anti-rejection drugs for a transplanted organ.

With 42% of Americans being obese, it is important to note that the list that the CDC mentions are all conditions made more common by obesity.

Finally, age has been a considerable risk factor for death after getting COVID-19. In China, the majority of deaths were in the 80+ age group, but there was still higher risk compared to younger groups starting at about age 40.

This is a global pandemic, and information is updated by the hour. The best thing to keep yourself and others healthy at this juncture is to wash your hands frequently, avoid crowds, keep a respectful distance from those who are sick, and avoid contact with others if you develop symptoms.

And of course, visit the CDC for more information.