Who’s at higher risk of severe illness with COVID-19?
Editor’s note: As what we know about COVID-19 evolves, so could the information contained in this story. Find our most recent COVID-19 blog posts here, and learn the latest in COVID-19 prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Each day, we learn more and more about COVID-19 and how it affects patients. Now we have data that sheds light on why some patients experience mild symptoms, while others require hospitalization.
A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 78% of COVID-19 patients who end up in the intensive care unit have at least one underlying health condition.
Conditions tied to increased risk
Among COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU, 32% had diabetes, 29% had heart disease and 21% had chronic lung disease such as asthma, COPD and emphysema. Other health conditions include chronic kidney disease and compromised immune systems. The U.S. data is consistent with what was seen in China and Italy.
COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Severe cases can cause difficulty breathing, chest pain and pressure, and bluish lips or face.
How COVID-19 affects the lungs
The coronavirus damages the air sacs and the small blood vessels on the lungs, causing debris to accumulate in the airway. The damage to capillaries also causes them to leak fluid rich in protein into the airway, which further contributes to the clogging of the air sacs.
The more clogged the air sacs become, the harder it is to transfer oxygen and the more you feel short of breath. This increases the risk of respiratory failure.
Chronic disease and COVID-19
When a patient has a chronic condition like lung disease, they have a reduced reserve to call upon when they get sick. This is true for any upper respiratory illness, and COVID- 19 is no different. Respiratory failure can happen more quickly in these patients.
For those with heart disease, a damaged heart may not pump blood effectively through the body. A backup can cause pressure in the vessels, leading to fluid building up in the air sacs and making it hard to breathe. Uncontrolled diabetes puts patients at risk of infections and heart disease.
How to protect yourself
There’re no specific steps that patients with chronic health conditions should follow to protect themselves. They’re encouraged to follow the advice we all should adhere to:
- Stay home.
- Take your medicine for your chronic health conditions.
- Wash your hands.
- Clean high-touch surfaces.
- Practice proper social distancing by staying 6 feet away from other people.
Jonathan Parsons is director of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Asthma Center and a professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
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