Five Risk Factors for COVID-19
1 Age
People ages 65 and older are at a higher risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19 and flu, while those 75 and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV. Additionally, older adults who are 60 to 74 and live in nursing homes or have health conditions, such as heart and lung disease, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease and other chronic conditions, are at higher risk of complications and more severe illness from RSV.
2 Chronic Conditions
Regardless of age, certain health conditions, such as heart and lung disease, obesity, asthma, diabetes and kidney disease, can put individuals at higher risk of developing severe illness from respiratory viruses.
Obesity can worsen COVID-19 outcomes and, in some cases, may triple the risk of hospitalization. For people with asthma, respiratory viruses can trigger asthma attacks or even lead to pneumonia. Those with diabetes face a greater risk of severe illness, especially if blood sugar levels are not well-controlled. And individuals with heart disease should take extra care, as respiratory viruses can strain the cardiovascular system.
3 Weaken Immune System
Some medical conditions and treatments can weaken the immune system, leaving a person vulnerable to infection. Common reasons for a moderate to severely weakened immune system include cancer treatments, organ transplants requiring immunosuppressive therapy and primary immunodeficiency disorders.
A weakened immune system makes it harder to fight respiratory infections, including COVID-19, flu and RSV. It can also reduce the body’s ability to maintain long-term protection from previous infections or vaccinations. That is why staying current on vaccines is especially important for people with weakened immune systems.
4 Pregnancy
Expecting a baby is an exciting time, but pregnancy brings physical changes to a pregnant person’s body that can increase the risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses. Changes to the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy can heighten the chances of getting severely sick from COVID-19 and flu. Pregnant women are 2.5 times more likely to be admitted into an intensive care unit (ICU) for COVID-19 than nonpregnant women in the same age group.
Respiratory viruses can also affect pregnancy outcomes. Studies found that COVID-19 increased the risk of preterm births between 2020 and 2022 before vaccines were widely available.
5 Vaccination Status
In order to protect against the most current strains, flu vaccines are updated annually. Just like updating your smartphone, getting a flu shot each year helps protect you from the latest versions of the virus spreading in your community.
Comments