COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
Heart disease, diabetes and obesity
Older age
Lung problems, including asthma
Heart disease
Diabetes and obesity
Cancer and certain blood disorders
Weakened immune system
Chronic kidney or liver disease
Down syndrome
Protect yourself; prevent unnecessary risk
What raises the risk of severe or critical COVID-19 illness?
Age raises the risk of serious COVID-19
Aging plus disease raises the risk of serious COVID-19
Asthma, COPD, other lung diseases raise risk of severe COVID-19
Cancer raises the risk of severe COVID-19
A COVID-19 vaccine can lower your risk of serious illness
Content
Age and COVID-19 risk
How age and health conditions affect COVID-19 risk
Lung diseases and COVID-19 risk
Cancer and COVID-19 risk
Other conditions that raise the risk of severe COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccines and serious illness
How else can you lower the risk of severe COVID-19?
Content
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Many people with COVID-19, also called coronavirus disease 2019, recover at home. But for some, the illness can lead to hospital care, treatment in the intensive care unit or death.
Not every risk factor for serious COVID-19 illness is known, but some are clear. Age and having chronic health conditions both raise your risk, for example. Other factors may include where you live, work or learn. Access to medical care also may affect risk. Having more than one risk factor makes the risk of serious illness even higher.
If any of these risk factors apply to you, and you have symptoms of COVID-19, act quickly and talk with your healthcare team about treatment options. Medicine to treat the illness works best if started right away.
