Articles
COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
Lung problems
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
Content
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
Other conditions that raise the risk of severe COVID-19
A COVID-19 vaccine can lower your risk of serious illness
How else can you lower the risk of severe COVID-19?
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
Content
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
Other conditions that raise the risk of severe COVID-19
A COVID-19 vaccine can lower your risk of serious illness
How else can you lower the risk of severe COVID-19?
Aging plus disease raises the risk of serious COVID-19
Severe COVID-19 disease is more likely for people who have other health issues.
Some common diseases linked to aging are:
- Heart disease. Examples are heart failure or coronary artery disease.
- Diabetes mellitus. The risk is higher for both type 1 and type 2.
- Chronic lung diseases. This includes airway disease and conditions that damage lung tissue.
- Obesity. The risk goes up as body mass index (BMI) increases, with the highest risk for a BMI of 40 or greater.
- Chronic kidney disease. Especially if you are on dialysis.
These diseases become more common as people age. But they can affect people of any age. The risk of serious COVID-19 illness is linked to having one or more underlying medical condition.
