People with previously existing ailments have been told to take extra precautions against coronavirus — avoiding large crowds, staying away from anyone who appears ill and other forms of social distancing.
Older adults in particular and those with underlying health conditions are more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19. That is why officials are pressing a “stay home, stay healthy” message because people who have the virus but no symptoms might inadvertently infect these higher risk people.
Those who are 60 or older and have an underlying health condition are at higher risk. And people over 60, generally, have immune systems that are naturally weaker than their younger counterparts.
Here are the risk factors, no matter the age of the person, according to a news release Sunday from the Oregon Health Authority:
- Lung disease, including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) or other chronic conditions associated with impaired lung function or that require home oxygen
- Compromised immune system (immunosuppression) (e.g., seeing a doctor for cancer and treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation, receiving an organ or bone marrow transplant, taking high doses of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressant medications, HIV with a CD4 count <200)
- Blood disorders (e.g., sickle cell disease or on blood thinners)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Current or recent pregnancy (in the last two weeks)
- Diabetes, or other endocrine disorders
- Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
- Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
- Neurological and neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions
But age alone also puts someone at risk. A massive study by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention surveyed nearly 45,000 cases in the country as of Feb. 11. It found that the mortality rate for COVID-19 was zero for children in their first decade of life, and 0.1% for people 19 and younger.
That compares to the overall death rate of 2.3% in China. (Scientists now think the worldwide death rate might turn out to be closer to 1 percent).
By far, it was youngsters’ grandparents or great grandparents who were the ones who were dying because of the virus: about 15% of people 80 years and older who were infected ultimately died. The death rate was 8% for people in their 70s, 3.6% in their 60s, 1.3% in their 50s and 0.4% or lower for people 49 and younger.
Additionally, early data show men may be more prone to coronavirus illness and complications than women.